DISCONTENTED UNIONISTS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13375, 17 March 1909, Page 4

DISCONTENTED UNIONISTS.

INTERVIEW WITH THE HON. A. W. HOGG. (MtESS ASSOCIATION TELZGaAK.) WELLINGTON, March 16. A deputation from the Furniture Workers' Union had rather an animated discussion this moraine with tho Hon. A. W. Hogg, Minister for Labour. Mr T. M. Wilford, M.P., explained that the officers of the Labour Department took up the position that certain provisions in the furniture workers' award were in conflict with tuie Factories Act, and must, therefore, be inoperative. The Union, however, held that the award was valid, and must be maintained. Tho complaint was mado by the deputation that the D.I.C. discharged a non-unionist during slackness of work, and afterwards put the same man on again while unionists were out of work, and that the Department had declined to ask the Court for the interpretation of the award as to why the man had been discharged.

Another complaint was that some country employers had been paying wa_es fortnightly instead of weekly. The Union thought a conviction for a breach of award should be obtained. Chief Inspector Lomas, however, had stated that 'his instructions were no» te ask for less than a £10 fine, and as that would be too severe, he could do nothing beyond cautioning the employers. The Minister, in reply, said he did not think there was much in tho complaints. He did not want to see small manufacturers and others unduly hampered in their efforts. In regard to the case of a non-unionist who was sent away for a few days, owing to slackness of work, and then re-employed, 'he fancied that any humane employer having a man working for him would be doing a great wrong if he did not tako him back when able to do so.

The deputation told the Minister that if his ruling was right there would soon bo no more unionists.

The Minister said it was dangerous to rush to extremes. He deprecated attacks on the Factory Inspectors, who were doing their duty. H© strongly urged tho men to work in harmony with the employers. The Department was doing its best to help tho unions, and he did not think they should seize every opportunity to drive tho employers before the Court. Capital and Labour should work side by side. The object of the Department was to protect both sides.

As an outcome of the interview, the Minister promised to obtain the opinion of the Solicitor-General on the following .questions:—(l) How long does a non-unionist have to be out of employment before he is deemed to be dismissed. (2) If a non-unionist is dismissed, can his employer reinstate him instead of a unionist when thero is a preference clause.