CAPITAL AND LABOUR.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19153, 9 November 1927, Page 10

CAPITAL AND LABOUR.

M.P.'S ALLEGATION. (PRESS iSSOCTATIOK TZLEGBAM.) WELLINGTON, November 8. An allegation that a meeting had been held recently between the Alliance of Labour and the Employers' Federation with a view to defeating the Arbitration Act Amendment Bill was made by Mr J. G. Eliott, member for Oroua, in his evidence before the Labour Bills Committee of the House of Representativs to-day.

Mr Eliott said Mr Bishop, secretary to the Federation, had stressed his opposition to the measure, but had not placed before the Committee the fact that the shipping and freezing companies were in favour of the amendment. "I want the farmers to know," declared Mr Eliott, that last week a meeting was held between the representatives of the Alliance of Labour and the Employers' Federation to defeat this Bill, and it appears to me that the Employers' Federation, which is composed principally of manufacturers and merchants, is linking* up with Labour to defeat the aims, objects, and aspirations of the farmers.

The chairman (Sir John Luke): Do you seriously make that statement?" Witness: I do seriously make the statement that last week a committee of the Advisory Board received a deputation from the Alliance of Labour on the subject of the Arbitration Act Amendment. Messrs A. R. Partridge, G. W. Morgan, J. P. Cousins, W. Simm, H. Mainland, A. Seed, F. X. Sanderson, F. J. Ballinger, R. M. Griffiths, and the secretary represented the Employers' Federation, and Messrs J. Roberts, R. Semple, A. Bromley, and A. Cook the Alliance of Labour.

_Mr Walter Nash, secretary of the New Zealand Labour Party, said it was quite true that a deputation from the Labour Conference, which had been held last week to consider the Arbitration Act, had waited upon the Employers' Federation and asked that body what attitude it intended to take with regard to the Conciliation and Arbitration Act.

This conference." said Mr Nash, "might, be misinterpreted, but I am certain that there was no question of Labour ranging itself with the employers for the purpose of defeating the aspirations and objects of farmers, as alleged by Mr Eliott."

The Hon. T. Shailer Weston, president of the New Zealand Emplovers' Federation emphatically ridiculed" the irresponsible suggestion that there ■was any collision between employers and labour to defeat the Bill, although he admits the Labour Party waited on the employers to explain t.he action they intended to take.