THE IRONMASTERS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 442, 26 February 1909, Page 8

THE IRONMASTERS.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE BEGUN. "EMPLOYEES MTJST SPEAK OUT." ' Delegates to the New' Zealand: Ironmasters' Conference at present meeting in Wellington held their annual luncheon at the Hotel Windsor, yesterday, , Mr. J. P. Luke, M!P.,. presiding over an attendance of about thirty members.. The first toast on the-list was ..that of "The Visitors," which was proposed by the ohairman. '■;•.''... ..'

Recent Fines Imposed on Employers. . In speaking to the ..toast, Mr/ Luke said that there were, people in New Zealand who looked on the Ironmasters' Association with' suspicion* but thatwas not warranted,, for if. they , were to take a motto for the association it-would be "Fraternity, Love, and ..Truth." There was fraternity-in the association because-they .'all -worked for each other's'benefit, and did their ibest to help members in ■ : Auckland, : -.Christ-: church, ■ Dunedin,- or elsewhere. In regard to truth, the ironwork in this Dominion;had always ■ been carried out fairly arid' well, and every endeavour had. been .used to turnout.an article that was faithful and reliable.".. Ee-v-erting to the positiun of the association'itself, Mr. Luko said that he could not congratulate members on having had a very successful year. He -was not.speaking in any pessimistic spirit, as. he. had always: felt that a greater, hope 'should actuate them in their daily life. • " A point about their laws '.was. that they- were always'tinged with a certain amount of Labour legislation, and it was'this that the employers must; speak: out against... They were not.so well organised as other sections of the community, and '.they, should, be. sufficiently or'ganised to be able to do what'was right tor the people in general. The consideration which' should guide them in. any action taken was how Labour legislation was going to .affect the ■people as a whole, for if there were conditions .which were 'too' far-reaching they would be sure to react on: the people■ who. were. working for wages. He hoped'that-they; would not have , a repetition in Wellington of the fines that were inflicted recently under the, hew.Artntration. Act. , They. could :not con<rrahUate Dr. 'Jf'Arthur oh'the way in .which he haoV dealt with the Act.- And, in: his opinion, it :was : npt for the Labour Department to determine what the fines should be. ■- The magistrate was there to give effect, to the.law of the country, and, if they took away the initiative from him. they made of him merely, a .time-servant-and a servant of the Government. . Dr; M.Arthur Svas a maii for whom, he-had a: great respect, but he thonshttliaton this occasion he had not exercised that judicial mind which .he had always displayed previously. ..:.... ..■■..;:

The Old Order Better than the Present; V :■' Mr. J. Smith, in.replying,^said that lie.had ; worked in the iron trade for. about fifty: years. 'He was entirely opposed:'to the manner in • which the' Labour party. was putting conditions on the masters-ot the Dominion-such [■conditions that they could -only- get a bare 1 existence. In this the men were not doing the best for-themselves, for, in the early times when a different state of affairs prevailed, the men were, he thought, far better, off... When there were holidays they' got .-paid-for them, and they also got a.few pounds. atChristmas. ■ When -the' new order, of things came into ; force, employees worked well, and appeared to think that they were'"better: off, but he thought .that many of them wished that .they;.were back under the old conditions. If. things were differ.ent, much less work would , be sent-out of the Dominion, and -there - would: be.-.more : -oppor-. I tunities for local industry. . -.■' ■■ ■' '■:"<■' .. • Mr. J. Anderson, of Christchurch, also spoke. . Mr. .Wa'rnook, : of Auckland,- remarked that the great body of • the ironmasters';seemed - ! to soe .eye to eye, but therevwfre others - ,who. wished to pull the'ropes-for their own benefit. -He ■thought that if'some amicable'agreement ■ could;Be : arrived at-, with, theieinployees. there ,would be more employment for-tjieni than at present. '. /'■ ■:■'■ -■■■•.'■" ;.■■■ .-.'■■. ;'.'■ ■'■■■■'•:' Mr. .Booth, of Christchurch, did.,-not think that the fall in values oflastyear was a. thing, that they should be so much discouraged over. There was no need to : take a; pessimistic ■view of'the future, for there was nothing , 'to' ; show th'at things • would get.worse. , - They had /not arrived at-(he greatest possibilities of the /country .by nny. means. -'New' Zealand was ;sm'al)i : it was truo, but its.comp'arative!producing capacity was equal; to'..that-of any. :iuthe .World.. :. ;■'■ .-.•'. .'..', ' ' "■>;.<'<*,.■':• . ;" :•■-"■.-.. ■ -Mr.; Sparrow! also, replied .to .the toast,- .tliank'the' locarclelegates'.'for.'their reception. 'Their, conference was of great use, in that)their.collec''■tiye,., expression ,, of-opinion "Jai'ried,'.'greater; .weight with Parliament, of ;individuals. ! :yy'- ':' : '-i,-'' - ; "". ''V^:?- 1 ■'•'-.- B /■.■.-.'-.■ .('Another-.ChristchTirchiidelegatei-Mr; ~™van,- , to'.-theiiuSe wmchithei engineer- , in? 'profession' ;was,.-tp o.thpr.yiindustrieir-.ln, spite, of the fact that , .aVgr'eatj.'manvj people; realised this; however, there .'far too ■ much running; Honie.. for expensive -machinery. , .':. : . , fThanks for the' ; toast'-,'were: also' expressed by: Mr.. Cooper, Mr. • of 'Port Chalmers, 1 : Mr. Scott,'. Mr. Seagnr,.: : Mr. Batch, .of Auckland, and.Mr. "Xa'urenson;v ,;■,.: ' -, : -Parliament l Ought tp Take ; a-Holiday. ."Absent: Members", was proposed by Hγ;': D. , Robertson. ,He referred to all the old-mem-bers, and, in speaking of the: Hon.'G. M. Xuke.i romarked humorously, that .there-was -"far too much law-making at present." If. Sir .Joseph Ward were to say. to the members of the Legislature, "You can just shut-up,,:shop ;for'fivo years ,and' ! bnpy. yourselves," it: would be', one of'the 'best things that.could be done for the Dominion. , ': The toast was "supported' by : Messrs.' W. Cable and Crabtree. ■■■ .;•: •. .' V: ■' .',> ,-..-.-■■' ;' of the: secretary,. ; Mr.',H/ F.-Al-; len ( .was also drank; ■ In replying,. Mr; Allen referred,to the,labour, laws, and stated that, in Ais i capacity of secretary -to the Industrial As'.sboiation he knew very well what, was .the effect of the awards at: present in, force. ; -- A :Christchurcb manufacturer had .recently remarked, to him that if he were able to employ half-a-dozen men-at a shilling a. day less than the award rate he would do so, and keep them at stock work.' Under the. present conditions, however, that man, like; all other employers, could not afford ■to Jiave any surplus labour or hisbusiriess would not pay. - ■: .': ' . : ■ ,;r . "Our Hosts," proposed, by Mr. J. , .was the occasion for further, remarks on the relations of employer and employed. At present, said Mr. Anderson,, they had come to.the position that things must be adjusted somehow, or there would beabrealc in. the'ropes. They had not had all the juice squeezed put of them yet,,.and they were'.anxious, to arrive at a better, working understanding with the employees. He referred tp-Messrs. J. P. and C. M. Lake as the highest personification'of fsirness to.em-- ■ ployees. • .-"■.,-;. ,'■,... ;■■'■■.■■•'■. Messrs. 1 J: P.: Luke, Cable/and Crabtree replied briefly. '. ;, ■'. 1. . , .•.:.,'■;..;,.■... . Other toasts honoured were "The' Chairman" and "The Press." :. ~ . : : . /:<. ;.-. -.