CLOSING THE RANKS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 221, 17 September 1919, Page 11

CLOSING THE RANKS.

AUCKLAND EMPLOYERS. AM) OUTSIDE COMPETITION. REVIEW OF INDUSTRIAL YEAiR, 'In closing this report your committee would again draw attention to the necessity for close organisation on behalf of all employers in order to prevent our industries from being wiped out by outside competition." So ends I the eighteenth annual report of the J Auckland Provincial Employers' Association, which is now being circulated preparatory to the annual meeting on September 17. ""The association heartily welcomes our returning soldiers," states the report, '"and although we know the majority of employers are doing their utmost to place these men in suitable pjsitione, we again urge all employers not to rest until every returned man i 3 given full opportunity to lead a happy and useful life under conditions which will leaj to his future advancement."

INCREASED MEMBERSHIP. Recording a large accession of membership strength, the report acknowledges the untiring propaganda work of the president, which resulted in the e'ection oi 238 new members. During the period under review- the Auckland Saddle, ■Bridle, Harness, Collar and Bag Manufacturers' Union, and the Auckland Hardware Association, and the Auckland Motor Traders' Union have been affiliated, and the Electrical Traders have formed themselves into a trade section of I the association. The roll of industrial membership now stands at 602, while affiliated through unions of employers are some 500 firms and persons, a total of over 1.100 as compared with a total of 900 at the end of last year. Referring to anance the report states that the suggestion to strengthen finance by basing subscriptions on the wages bill instead of on the number of hands employed had not become necessary on account of the accretion of new members. THE BASIC WAGE. After an allusion to the work of the president on the Repatriation Board, the report records a busy year in regard to labour disputes. The secretary conducted some 53 disputes before Conciliation Counci;. The passing , of the War Legislation and Statutes Amendment Act, 191$, in December last, which gives the right to unions to apply to the Arbitration Court for alterations to awards in regard to hours of work and wages, notwithstanding that awards had not expired, had had the effect of numerous applications for increased wages being brought before the Court. This had enta:led calling large numbers of meetings of the employers affected to consider the position and to arrange for evidence and defence. ~\

The Arbitration Court's pronouncement, made in Dunedin in April last, it was hoped would have the effect of steadying wages, temporarily at all event?, and incidentally tend to miniraise further increases in the co=t of living. In order to preserve some sort of uniformity the Court sxed the basic wages as follows:—Skilled workers, 1/7J per hour; semi-skilled, 1/4} to 1/0 per hour (according to the degree of tkill); unskilled. l/3i per hour. To these wages must be added a. bonus of -hi per hour, which would be reviewed every six months, and varied in accordance with the Government Statistician's figures in regard to the "cost of living." The Court explained that this was not to be taken as a hard and fact rule, but as a working guide.