DATES CLASH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 33, 9 February 1939, Page 12

DATES CLASH.

MEETINGS HITCH.

INDUSTRIAL SCHEME.

LABOUR MINISTER'S VISIT.

When the .Minister of Labour, the Hon. 1\ (_'. Webb, \i«-it* Auckland next week for the puqHwc of paving the way for the formation in Auckland of an industrial advisory council, similar to that formed in other centres, the possibility is that there will In- a sparse attendance of union representatives at hin meeting on Thursday evening next.

This will l»e due. not to any want of sympathy for the scheme or' any lack of popularity for the Minister himself, for Mr. Wel>l» in one of the most popular of tlie Labour Ministers, but to the fact that the monthly meeting of the district council of the Federation of Labour has also been convened for Thursday next.

The secretary of the council, Mr. H. Campbell, when bis attention was drawn to the clashing of dates, etated this afternoon that he had not been advised of the date of the proposed meeting with the Minister, and circulars calling the council's regular monthly meeting had already been sent out to delegates. There were several matters which had to be dealt with at the meeting, and at this juncture it was impossible to postpone it. On the other hand, the City Council, to accommodate the Minister, has postponed its ordinary meeting from next Thursday till the following Tuesday. February 21. and the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, will .preside at the Minister's meeting. Hitch Unfortunate. Unless the position can be satisfactorily adjusted before next week the hitch, from the Minister's point of view, will be unfortunate,, for it is his desire that the meeting should be representative of the workers, employers—including the Chamber of Commerce and Manufacturers' Association —and local bodies. M.IVs in tlie Auckland area have also been invited to attend. Meetings similar to that to be held in Auckland have taken place in Christchnrch. Dunodin and Wellington, and in ChristHiurch it is proposed to set up a council consisting of 10 representatives of the employers and 10 of the em ploy ere to carry out the broad functions of the councils which are to promote a better understanding between employers and workers as to the noeds of industry, and to ensure the settlement of questions which give rise to differencee between employers and workers. The councils are also to consider legislative proposals advanced by the Minister of Labour* to advise on any other matters submitted to it. mid to make representations to the Oiovernment on matters affecting the well-being of industry. At Thursday's meeting it is not the intention of the Minister to have a committee set up. Tlis plan is to addrese the conference and leave it for delegates to arrange a further meeting to decide the personnel and constitution of the council.