NEEDS OF COMMERCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 243, 14 October 1929, Page 5

NEEDS OF COMMERCE.

ABOLITION OF ARBITRATION. WOULD IT INCREASE PROSPERITY ? PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. " I believe that the abolition of the Arbitration Court would increase the prosperity of the country, and result in the more permanent improvement of the Dominion. As a result of freedom from the Arbitration Court, some workers would remain on their present scale; others, who were not producing, would possibly have to accept a lower wage or increase their efforts, but the man who is of the main value to the community— the man to-day discouraged because of the svstem of payment for time put in instead of production put out —would be free to put forward his best efforts and gain the rewards possible as a result of greater effort and greater production." This statement was made by Mr. C. P. Agar, presiding at the opening to-day of the Dominion conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce. Employers, said Mr. Agar, would have to recognise that there should be no attempts at sweating or lowering the standard of living, but that employees should share in the increased benefits_ of industry. At present the arbitration system was supported by the worker, I largely because of fear of losing what had been gained. On the other hand, employees suffered, because many employers were afraid to recognise special work and ability, for the reason that were it recognised, it would appear to follow automatically that it should be adopted as a standard of a following award. Consideration of the problem would result in recognition of the economic fact that industry could not pay high wages unless they were earnedLabour to-day evidently failed to recognise the benefits of increased production. The road to prosperity did not consist in arguments as to the division of a hundred, but in increasing production and output, lowering overhead expenses, cooperation and understanding of a | problem.

Political But Non-party. The president said that they were repeatedly told that the organisation was non-political. The true position was that the organisation was non-party. However, legislation and regulations affected business,' and therefore the question arose: "How long could the business interests remain outside that which affected them every day?" In recent years there had undoubtedly been too much legislation and too much interference with business, which resulted in a lack of confidence. It could be fairly stated that the_ Government recognised that there was a state of unrest and uncertainty which adversely affected the free flow of money and general prosperity. Good work had been done by the 192S committee. The council had also made representations. If the claims were reasonable and suggestions sound, it could only be that the consideration they deserved was not given because of a lack of understanding of the problem, or that party considerations outweighed economic principles. The progress and financial stability of the Dominion, said Mr. Agar, had been brought about by the success of the primary producers. There was a growing tendency to establish secondary industries, with appeals for more tariff protection. It meant that if secondary industries were to lie protected by tariffs, the primary producer would be at a serious disadvantage unless he also received consideration and protection. In his judgment the time had arrived when any additional tariff protection for secondary industries would have to be offset by corresponding relief to primary producers. Giant Amalgamation Visualised. "We find that the work of the chambers largely consists of defensive action," said the president. "We are continually making representations to the Government on the question of interference in business, and the major portion of our activities consists of defending the rights and privileges of the commercial community in order to make the economic life of the Dominion run more smoothly. There are a number of other organisations protecting the interests they represent. One cannot help but picture the organisation that would be possible by the amalgamation of the cognate bodies affecting employers' interests. Our time would be limited to the actual necessities of tlio occasion. Such an organisation would result in a splendid staff being available, executive ability always being at hand and an orderly machine ready not only to protect, but also to advance the interests represented. I believe that improvement in the lot of the worker, the raising of the standard of living in the country, and prosperity of the capitalist can go hand in hand with co-opera-tion between capital and labour, resulting 5n closer attention to increased production and a lowering of overhead expenses. With the continuance of our present system we are going to be harassed and hampered by legislation and by the employment of artificial means of payment rather than payment by results or the productive efforts of the individual."