INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14275, 10 February 1912, Page 9

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

. VIEWS OF THE -AUCKLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

ROYAL COMMISSION SUGGESTED

(raESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM*)

AUCKLAND, February 9.

The industrial unrest now prevailing in the Dominion was referred to by the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce (Mr Leo. Myers), at a meeting of the Chamber to-day.

Mr Myers remarked that the unrest that had been co prevalent of late in the industrial world of New Zealand and Australia, had doubtless caused all thoughtful men to give earnest and judicial consideration to the subject of the relations between the employers and the employed. No legislative enactment would work out entirely satisfactorily to everybody, but as sensible men they must endeavour to find a solution to this groat problem that would best suit tiie existing circumstances and conditions of our Dominion. He had intended asking tne Chamber to set up a committee, for the purpose of investigating this problem, and endeavouring to find a solution to it, but recognising the fact that euch an investigating committee woUld necessarily have to devote a very large amount of time in the performance of its functions, he suggested the passing of a resolution asking the Government to set up a Boyal Commission for this purpose, such Commission to consist of leading representatives of commercial men of the Dominion, together with representative leaders of Labour in equal number,- whose decision one could: reasonably expect would-be based on justice and sound \ commonsenso. To that end he proposed the foliowiug resolution" , :—"That this Chamber of Commerce, having regard to the frequency with which serious disputes arise between employers and employed, views with alarm, the future development of the industrial and commercial life of New Zealand, and requests the Government to set up a Royal Commission composed oi representative commercial men and leaders of Labour, whose dntv it shall be to investigate the problem as it exists in New Zealand, and to endeavour to find a solution to it, such Commission to take evidence throughout the Dominion, and to report to the Government within a reasonable time."

The motion was carriei unanimously, and it was decided to forward it to other Chambers for their co-operation.