DOMINION INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 77, 31 March 1928, Page 14

DOMINION INDUSTRY.

MEANS OF ADVANCEMENT. THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE, ADJOURNMENT UNTIL APRIL 18. (By Telegraph.—Or... Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day.

The preliminary sittings of the National Industrial Conference ended In-night, when an adjournment was made until April IS.

Tapers representing the considered opinions nf various represented groups wero presented, but four were held over until the resumption. These were the statements of the Employers' Federation, nf the Chamber of Commerce, nf Professor IJ. O. Williams, and of Mr. ,T. Roberts, secretary nf the Alliance of Labour.

Prior to the appointment, Mr. T. O. Pi-hop, on behalf of the employers, and Mr. Roberts, on behalf of the employees, announced that they had elected the following delegates as their representatives on the primary and secondary industries committees: —

Primary Industries Committee.—Employers' representatives: The Hon. T. S. Weston, Messrs. W. G. Smith, W. J. J'olson, R. S. Cliadwick, •!. Carr, H. D. Acland, G. H. Williams, W. X. Nicholson, It. S. E. Turner, G. Finn, J. G. Brechin, A. Morton, .T. Middlcton. Workers' representatives: Messrs. J. Roberts, W. Nash, W. Herbert, T. O'Bryne, H. C. Revell, A. Cook, ,T. C'hurehhouse, B. Martin, A. Parlane, C. Baldwin, W, Bromley. R. Fulton, .T. P. John.

Secondary Industries Committee.— Employers' representatives: Messrs. H. Mainland. A. G. Henderson, T. O. Bishop, W. W. Mulhnlland, F. Colbeek, R. M. Morton, J. S. Jessep, D. J. McGowan, F. Campbell, W. H. P. Barber, H. N. Stirling, .T. Fisher. Workers' representatives: Messrs. T. Bloodworth, E. Ivennedy, R. Seniple, R. A. Brooks, F. Cornweli, J. Purtell, F. R. Cooke. N. Worrall, O. Mcßrine, A. Black, J. Robinson, J. Tucker.

National Council of Industry. The establishment of a National Council of Industry, with provisions for branches in each district or in each industry, was advocated by the labour delegation. The National Council would set up district councils and local councils similar to the existing Apprenticeship Committee. It would seek the assistance of trade unions and employers' associations, and, in fact, any person or organisation which could provide assistance or put forward suggestions enabling the council better to carry out its functions.

Question of Qualification. "Under the present system," said Mr. T. Bloodworth, a member of the labour delegation, "there is no barrier, on the side of the employers, at least, to anyone who can find the capital necessary engaging in any industry. This, we think, is wrong and tends to kepp the standard of efficiency low. We suggest, therefore, that there should be a certain standard of efficiency set as a qualification for admission to the unions on both sides, and that only those who are admitted as members of the unions should be allowed to practice, either as employer or employee, in the industry concerned. The rules and standards of admission would not be very stringent at first, but could gradually be raised from time to time by the consent of the industry. We believe that by this method shoddy work would be eliminated."

Employment Assurance Fond. Contributions to an employment assurance fund, the funds to be controlled by a board and utilised to provide work on farm service depots, was advanced as a remedy for -unemployment and low prices with' tlie farmer by Mr. G. Finn. "What I propose,"-he said, "is that all persons over" 16 should contribute one shilling a month to this fund. The collecting could be done by having special 1/ stamps, procurable at any post office, and these would be affixed to a card or folder. The fund would be administered by the proposed Employment and Primary Production Board, and it would be the duty ot this board to keep in employment everyone wanting work. The majority of work would be in the country districts, and I propose that there should be a number of farm sarvice stations at distances of (say) 30 miles apart. These farm stations would not only be the means of providing a sort of clearinghouse or distributing centre for labour, but (he activities of the station would bo educative, and would have a very far-reaching effect for good throughout the country. It would be the duty of the board to administer the employment association, fund and the farm service depot, and to promote and encourage tlie increase of production in all primary industries."

Workers' Compensation. That a system of workers' coitfpensation similar to that in vogue in the province of Ontario should be introduced into New Zealand wis the opinion expressed by Mr. J. Roberts, of tlie Labour delegation. He said the system in operation in Outario aimed at restoring the worker to health and making provision for his dependents during that period, and at the same time ensured that if he was totally or partially incapacitated his interests would be protected.

While admitting thnt conciliation and arbitration, with strict adherence to sound economic principles, could be made u success, Mr. C. H. Williams,, of the Sheepowners' Federation, expressed the view that the Arbitration Court had had the effect of discouraging efficiency, increasing production costs and the cost of living, accentuating the difficulties of primary producers, increasing industrial friction, and leading to unemployment. Jn addition, he said, a permanent bias anginst employers was inevitable.