SAWMILLING SECTION.

Progress, Volume XV, Issue 2, 1 October 1919, Page 624

SAWMILLING SECTION.

[This Section is published by arrangement with the Dominion Federated Sawmillcrs’ Association (Incorp.) in the interests of the Sawmilling Industry of N.Z.] Editor : W. T. IRVINE.

_ “Industrial unrest had a prominent place in the Financial Statement delivered by Sir James Allen a few days ago, with regard to which he remarked that no subject demands more earnest consideration from thinking men and women at the present time. Recently we have had evidence of a greater disposition on the part of employers to consult their employees on matters affecting the welfare of the industry in which they are engaged, and Sir Robert Horne, Minister for .Labour in the British Government, stated at a Conference held recently, that wherever the Government is in the position of employers, they are agreed that the principle which gives the workman a share in the management shall be carried out. Trade Councils or parliaments in connection with several industries are now being held in England and the following are among the questions that come up for consideration, viz. : (a) Wages, hours, and working conditions, (b) Measures for regularising production and employment, and for reducing seasonal fluctuations, (c) Methods for the settlement of differences between those engaged in any particular industry, (d) Improvement of health conditions of the workers.

Closely allied to the foregoing is of course the question of profit-sharing, bonus'giving, or co-partner - ship in industrial undertakings, so as to bring capital and labour, employer and employee into a more harmonious working alliance, and we are pleased to note that a serious attempt is being made to grapple with the question in many quarters. The hard spirit of pure Commerciaiis.u must be modified in some degree, and a spirit of mutual interest and recognition of the' rights and duties of all engaged in industry, engendered in its place. Just how this is to be brought about in connection with each particular industry remains to be seen, but it is surely possible to organise effectual and sympathetic working conditions for peaceful undertakings, as well as for those' of war.

The further question of limitation of profits and fixation of prices, is also having greater attention, both in the Homeland and the Dominions, and this would appear to be perfectly justifiable in the face of the ever increasing cost of living, and reduction of the purchasing power of the sovereign. ' In this connection the Government has introduced a new Board , of Trade Bill which provides for the setting up of a ’ more efficient organisation for the regulation of prices of commodities and the cost of living. , The" powers of the Board as at present constituted are in every

way limited, but tiie new bill will increase its functions, which are defined as follows, viz. : (1) To obtain by means of investigations and judicial inquiries information as to the industries of New Zealand. . (2) To publish with respect to those industries such information as the/ board deems of advantage to the public; to procure by means of (regulations the proper control, maintenance, and development of such industries and such other functions relative to those industries as may be lawfully conferred on the board. * ■ * # * The board is given the widest possible powers for the holding of judicial inquiries into almost any matter pertaining to any industry, including “the prevention or suppression of monopolies, unfair' competition, and other practices detrimental to the public welfare.” Any witness may be summoned to appear, and may be required to give evidence on oath, and to produce any , books or papers or documents required of him by the board., Any person refusing to give evidence, or refusing to produce books or to permit them to be inspected, shall be deemed guilty of contempt of an inferior court of justice. For such an offence the Supreme Court shall have jurisdiction, on the motion of the Board of Trade, to deal with trie offender by way of fine or imprisonment. So also a person giving false evidence may be charged with the crime of perjury, and be liable accordingly. No witness is to be allowed to refuse to give evidence on the plea that it may incriminate him in respect of any offence, _ other than an indictable offence, punishable by imprisonment. For the purposes of any inquiry, one or more persons possessed of expert knowledge of the subject of the inquiry may be associated with the board. Persons interested in the subject of the inquiry may attend by counsel, and maybe heard. All inquiries are to be held in private, but the board still reserves the right to publish any matter connected with the inquiry. The provision regarding the calling of witnesses and the production of documents is made applicable to officers of the Crown. « * # « The board is empowered also to make investigations by another method, likely to prove much less cumbersome and less laborious. Inquiries in this process may be made in writing, and answered in writing. Other, penalties have to be provided for default under this section. A person or body corporate guilty of default, and every person who counsels, procures, or is otherwise knowingly concerned in

. ich default, shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £IOO. Every person who deceives or obstructs the Board of Trade or any person nominated by the board for the purpose, in the conduct of an investigation, is to be liable to a fine of £10,(1 or to imprisonment for three months. Information supplied to the board in an inquiry of this sort is to be confidential, subject to the right of the board, reserved by the Act, to publish any matter which may be of benefit to the public, and publication is to be privileged for the purposes of the law or defamation. *-###- The Govemor-General-in-Council may make regulations on the recommendation of the Board of Trade for the suppression of unfair competition, for the prevention or suppression of monopolies or combinations, for the establishment of fixed or maximum or minimum prices for any classes of goods or services, for the prohibition regulation, or control of differential rates for goods or services where the existence of such is considered to be prejudicial to any industry in New Zealand, and for the regulation ahd control of industries generally for their own good and for the good of New Zealand. « « « # It is expressly provided that no Board of Trade regulation is to be made determining the wages or remuneration of the employees in any industry. The penalties for breaches of regulations provide that every person who commits, or attempts to commit, or counsels, procures, aids, or abets, or incites any other person to commit, or conspires with any other person to commit any offence against a Board of Trade regulation, shall be liable on summary conviction before a Magistrate to a fine of £2OO or imprisonment for three months. No such proceedings are to be instituted except with the consent of the Board of Trade, and any such prosecution may be instituted at any time within five years after the commission of the offence. By another process a penalty of £IOOO may be enforced against any offender, the definition of an offender being the same in every respect as for the summary procedure. ,In this other* method the process is by action for debt in the Supreme Court. , # * # « There are special sections referring to profiteering. Every person is, under the Bill, held to commit an offence who, either as principal or agent, sells or supplies, or offers for sale- or supply, any goods at an unreasonably high price, and the price is' to be deemed to be unreasonably high if it produces more than a fair and reasonable rate of commercial profit to the seller. Also, it is made an offence to withhold goods from sale if the effect of so withholding them is to force up the price of the! goods on the market. The penalty under this clause is a fine of £2OO or imprisonment for three months in the case of an individual, or a fine of £IOOO in the case of a body corporate. '

There is the usual provision' making the employer liable for the acts of ,his servant. *'* * * The shortage of coal responsible for the curtailment of the Railway services, is the subject of inquiry by a Commission of experts, who may be expected to report to the Government shortly. Meantime, although good stocks have been accumulated, the goslow policy adopted by the miners generally has a disquieting influence— we are fortunately approaching the period of the year in which the least consumption for domestic and lighting purposes is required. Railway services have been resumed in full as from the 29th September, and although a partial resumption of timber traffic took place some time ago, little headway appears to have been made in lifting the stocks accumulated at the, mills during the term of the ‘‘cut.” The shortage of trucks is a further drawback, but committees that have worked with local Traffic Managers on the Main Trunk, still continue to advise and assist in every possible way, so as to utilise them to best advantage. In this connection it is perhaps well to state that much more stringent conditions are likely to obtain than hitherto, and if millers are not prompt in loading up, and consignees as prompt in the discharge of the trucks at their destination, demurrage is intended to be enforced. * * * « As the coming General Election approaches it is questionable if some-steps should not be taken to ensure greater representation of the Saw-milling industry in the House of Representatives, and the return of sympathetic Members who are in touch with constituencies more immediately affected, and we hope the Federation may have some suggestions to make on the subject.