VICTORIAN LABOUR COMMISSION.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11244, 9 April 1902, Page 5

VICTORIAN LABOUR COMMISSION.

OONOLUSIOX OF SITTING IN OHRISTCHLTRCH.

The "Victorian Labour Commission sat again yesterday, when further evidence was taken. Mr O. T. Booth, President of the Canterbury Employers' Association, stated that factory legislation could not be said to have smoothed the way, except in a few trades. Tt could not be said with any degree of certainty that the Arbitration and Conciliation Act had prevented strikes. There had been no strikes since the Act had come into force, but the position would probably havo been the same if there had been no Act. The Act had increased the cost of production, and the increase had been passed on to the public. Hβ did not think the opinions expressed by the Chairman of the Conciliation Board the previous afternoon would meet with the approval of employers generally, nor that the Boards of Conciliation had dene very much towards settling disputes on vital points. Mr Turnbull had also said that the good effect of the Board depended a great deal upon the employer, and not so much upon the employees, who had exhausted all other measures before they came to the Board. That was certainly not correct. Usually the first notice employers got was a statement consisting of the claims of the employees. 1 he result of the labour legislation had been to a very large extent to divorce workmen from matters, and had disturbed the old friendly relationship. Employers and employees, instead of working together, were working against each other. The troubles between masters and men generally had been multiplied ten, if not twentyfold, by the operation of the Act. He did not think employers would abolish the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, for it would be a" most dangerous thing to do. T, To , Mr Rei(J: - So™ 6 of the Conciliation Boards should be abolished, but he thought that the Conciliation Board ought to do good work. Iμ his opinion the legislation had been abused and misused. The workmen in any case would have received' as high a wage independent of the Act as under it, and the minimum wage tad come an average wage. Mr H. Broadhead, secretary of the Canterbury Employers' Association, agreed in the main with Mr Booth's evidence. He found the employers all round complaining of the Arbitration Act.

Mr J. L. Scott, engineer, said that tfie Christchurch employers had no confidence in the Christchurch Board. Hβ believed in conciliation if it could be arrived at, but the Board should be reconstructed. A magistrate should act as chairman, and there sihould be a representative from each side on the Board, together with two experts. The recommendations of the local Conciliation Board had in the past been grossly un.fair, and he was decidedly of opinion that these recommendations should not come into force immediately. All the conciliation they were likely to get would be from meetings between the men and the employers. The present period of prosperity must come to an end.

To Mr Sternberg : He did not think the labour legislation had increased production.

Mr W. Dowdall, President of the Christchurch Bootmakers' Union, approved of the Arbitration Act. It had prevented l strikes, and had fostered a better feeling between masters and men. The Conciliation Board failed at conciliating, and as a rule both parties did not go to the Board prepared to receiva conciliation. In his opinion the disputes should go straight to the Arbitration Court. The relations between the employers and employees bad improved as a consequence of tie Act. The wages of tho men had not increased as a result of the Act, for the log had been abolished, and a minimum of £2 2s per week established. Under the log many men were earning morfc-than this amount. r ''

John Fisher, bootmaker, agreed with the evidence given by the last witness. The benefit to, the workers was the increased security as to the permanence of the present conditions. ■ The Chairman intimated that this con eluded the taking of evidence.

THE COM2UISSION WELCOMED BY THE PREMIER. : . . The Premier arrived at Warner's Hotel at half-past six, where ihe met the members of <the Victorian Labour Commission. Mjp Seddon extended the Commission a cordial and hearty welcome to New Zealand. He hoped they -would obtain all the information they, required, and as far as the Government were concerned, all facilities would be afforded them In their investigations. The New Zealand labour legislation had done good, and a reversion io the previous condition of affairs was not dreamt of "by anybody. At the last election iKrcand'idate 'liaa advocated the aboli- | tion erf this legislation. He hoped the 1 Commission would extend to the Premier and Parliament of Victoria the hearty good wishes of New Zealand. Australia, i and New Zealand should work together as a brotherhood and prove their strength to the_ Empire and the world. (Hear, hear.) As' an old Victorian himself his feelings were the most kindly towards them. He trusted their report would be of advantage the colony of Victoria. The Hon. A. R. Outtrim expressed the dslight- of the Commission at meeting Mr Seddon, who was undoubtedly the man of the hour. (Hear, hear.) While gentlemen occupying similar positions to Mr Seddon were waiting, that gentleman took the initiative. He was sure that on his arrival in London,' Mr Seddon would receive an ovation second to none. The Commission arrived in Ne\r Zealand with open minds. The colony they found stood in a unique position. There were labour laws which neither employer nor employee would consent to abolish, and he must congratulate the Premier for passing labour legislation on a higher plane than that adopted in any other colony. (Applause.) Up to the present the Commission had been very much impressed with the legislation. On'behalf of the Commission he thanked the Premier for the kind manner in which ha had treated them since their arrival in the colony. Mr Seddon's health was then drunk with enthusiasm.