INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 254, 24 October 1907, Page 4

INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS.

BRITISH COMMISSIONER'S

INQUIRIES,

Mr Ernest Ayes, MX, F.S.S, the 0 j well-known economist and sociologist ! has been during the past eight months investigating the labour laws of Aus tralasia and their effects on behalf of the Home Government. His inquiries as British Industrial Commissioner have been largely directed to the workW of the colonial Conciliation and Arbitration Acts, and the information-he -collects will' be studied by him and reported upon to the British Government. After visitine the Australian States he has been through the South and arrived in Auek. I land from Rotorua last evening. -'. . In the course of conversation with a representative of this paper this morning Mr. Ayes, while reticent as to the i_> pressions he had so far received in the colonies as to the working of colonial' labour legislation, expressed the opinion that while the labour conditions at Home and in the colonies could hardly be compared from the same view point' the legal machinery in operation in the': Australasian colonies had undoubtedly placed the employer and employee on a! better basis for the amicable settlement of disputes. In Victoria he had especially studied the Wages Board system, which in many ways closely fe> sembled our arbitration system, and had* the same ends in view—4;he avoidance of sweating and the maintenance oi industrial peace. "At Home," said Mr. Ayes, "there is, of course, no such legal machinery for. settling these questions. We have in the highly-organised trades a method of con. ciliation as between employer and em* ployee; but this is a purely voluntary ar< rangement, and under no other control than the goodwill of the parties. Even this is 'only possible in the case of trades which can be organised. The whole of our legislation at Home so far has been towards regulating the hours of women and young people. The question of, wages has practically been left untouched. 1) think that tbe amount of disorganisation and deteriorated labour at Home exists to : a far larger extent than it should, and in some occupations, doubtless, the pressure of industrial conditions is making itself keenly felt; but, speaking generally, I do not think there is the least reasonfor that pessimistic view of the outlook which is so often depicted by socialistic extremists. Looking back over the last few decades, one cannot) but be struck by the immense improve* ment .that has taken place in > labouu conditions in the Old Country, even with* out the assistance of "the Legislature." ' ■Mr. Ayes is naturally very anxious td get as far as possible art the effects of. the whole of our legislative labour sysi tern, and while in Auckland will be pleased to get any information frpm those interested or qualified to afford it. He will be staying at the Central Hotel until "Wednesday, when he leaves for, England, via Vancouver. The scope of Mr. Ayes' inquiries cafl best be shown by the circular which he has addressed to prominent business people, which includes the following questions:— L Is it in your "opinion advantageous—(a) to. employers, (b) to employed, (c) to your own trade (If any), and (d) to the community—to have some legal machinery for the adjustment of industrial relationships* especially as regards wages and hours, Between employers and employed? 2. Do you approve, of. the system" veloped under the Industrial Conciliation ' and Arbitration Act since 1894 Jn New Zealland? ~ / 3. Are you in favour of disputes' being dealt with by Conciliation Boards of In- ' dustrial Councils, the Court being retained . to settle points .which cannot be arranged at the Board or Council? . . 4. Are there any (a) advantages (admlimftrative or industrial) or (v) defect* (administrative or industrial) in the Conciliation and Arbitration Act to which you would draw special attention? J. ■ 5. What, If any, have been the effects oi the Conciliation and Arbitration Act upon (a) Employers' Asociatkms, (bj Trade:or Industrial Unions? 6. Do you consider that awards operate equally as between (a) the "large" and the "small" employer, and (b) the metropolitan and the country employer? 7. What, if any, have been the effects'of awards upon (a) the age and sex of employees, (b) the extent to which machinery Is used, .(c) the subdivision of work, (d) the individual efficiency of employees', (c)' the description and quality of output, (f) the, basis upon which wages are calculated (time work, piece work; etc,); (g) the conditions under which labour is performed, (V cost (to employers), (i) prices (to, the public)? 8. What, if any, have been the effect.of awards upon (a) the regularity and certainty of employment, (b) the position of (1)' the expert or competent, (2) the average, _ and (3) the less competent workers, (c) the relationships of employers and employed?. !). Do you consider that the difficulty of dealing with the old or'slow worker has been satisfactorily met by discriminating clauses In the awards? "'-"-."•'■■" 10. Has there been any abuse of the permlt system on either side? ~.-', ".»'. 11. Have you personal knowledge of any. cases, employers or employed, of those who ■have been driven but of a trade-or occupation (a) by an award, (b) as a result of litigation and proceedings arising from any, Industrial dispute? .-. .' '. 12. Can you mention any unrecorded cases of evasion of an award, of wnicn. you have, personal knowledge, that have taken place during the last two years, whether on the part of employers or employed, or of both In collusion? 13. Are there any conditions in New Zealand that seem to you to make the Indus-, trial Conciliation and Arbitration Act especially suitable to this State 7 . '"...- ---14. Information upon points not mentioned in the form, and general remarks. Note.—Most of the questions have been expressed in general terms, but __mJP". quested that with the answers Pap™ l "" may be given whenever possible. The lorm should be returned (filled in and signed) to Ernest Ayes, Esq.. Industrial Commissioner, Central Hotel, Auckland, N.Z., at an eariy, date, and not later than October 29. The answers will be regarded' as,«Ww, confidential, and, unless special permission is given, will be used only for general ana statistical purposes.