COUNCILLOR PROTESTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 October 1941, Page 5

COUNCILLOR PROTESTS

MEMBERSHIP OF EMPLOYERS’ ASSOCIATION REQUEST BEFORE BOROUGH. UNIFORMITY OF TREATMENT DESIRED. Following a brief discussion the Masterton Borough Council decided at its meeting last night to join up with the Manawatu-Wairarapa Employers’ Association. A letter was before the council from the secretary of the Manawatu-Wai-rarapa Employers’ Association, inviting the council to join the association. “We are quite capable of keeping on good relations with our employees without joining the association,” said Councillor H. E. Gardner. “The association has one policy —longer hours and shorter wages and to the devil with anyone else. I think that they are agitators and cause a lot of trouble and little good. I move that the letter be received.” Councillor W. Kemp contended that the association was not “an enemy” of the working people. The. Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, said that if all local bodies belonged to the association it would ensure uniformity of treatment and the good conditions existing for employees in one local body could not be used as a lever against another local body. Councillor Gardner’s motion that the letter be received lapsed for want of a seconder. In reply to a question Mr Jo.’-dan said that he was loath to move in the matter. “Unfortunately employers are having to do what the employees are doing,” said Councillor A. D. Low. “I cannot ag’ee that the association agitates—it is far from that. While industrial union secretaries are seeking to find holes in agreements and to pin prick, as is done on various occasions, it is necessary for us to link up. I move that we join up.” , Councillor G. D. Wilson seconded the motion. “What is the difference between an organiser and an agitator? aske Councillor Gardner. “It seems to me that a man who goes around the miners is called an agitator while a man who goes around the employers is an organiser. It should be remembered that the employers’ association was formed long before most labour un ions here. If it had not been for the ■Employers’ Federation there would not have been so many unions today. The Federation made bakers, butchers, etc organise in the country, following the cities. I think the council can look after its own'business.” Councillor Low’s motion was put to the meeting and carried by a large majority. “It is a nice state of affairs when we have to get them (the Employers’ Association) to look into our business, observed Councillor Gardner. Mr Jordan said that there was a dispute pending between the council and its employees. The dispute came from Wellington, not here. . A motion was passed which provided for the association handling the dispute between the council and its employees.