EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 643, 21 October 1909, Page 5

EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION.

ATTITUDE TO CERTAIN BILLS. ■ At a meeting of the IVirliamentary Comnnttoo, of the New Zealtuid .Employers', Federation it-was decided to forward the following letters to. ■ the' Ministers for Education and Labour' EDUCATION ACT AMENDMENT. .Minister for Educa- 1 L£ fL S . llduoat wii Act Amendment ■f) ,'. .hare the honour, by direction of my Fw'r™ tary: fo , convey to yoj i l, fljwption taken by employers of labour .7 of the abovo 8111. ivhich F« n V ?t^i that t - emp l? ye T s sKaII peVmit scholars to attend continuation schools by giving, them W tim °, olf «\wing o y rS?y work- £, cu ? ofmwt , o£ such a provision ! - ' J ■ '° employers of ■ labour refusing to ■ employ apprentices. At tho present tinie,., un- ! nf >hn s /'h'(°' l 'l l ' n^ SC i ' V ' aw hy awards i P O - urt ''. n, . an y employers will , not., undertdke .the'responsibility of engaging • l <P? r j!ii lces ' I ■ therefore, quite certain that if further, rcetnctions are imposed the engagemenv of apprentices, and young .people generally ] in oonnection. with our trades aud indu'tries would soon become a thing of tho past The 1 matter .iff,' of: such serious. importance, both to 1 employers, joung- workers, and' our industries generally, that my committee dooms it necessary;.to:thus early convey to you-its opposition j to the proposal, • and respectfully urges that Govornmemt should take suoh'steps as will prevont its .becoming law.—l am, etc., William i'ryor, Secretary." ■/ : 'FACTORIES r - ' "Tho Hon. J. A. Millar,■ Minister for Labour. 1 —Amendment; of Factories Act.—l' am in- < structSd .by. my .' Parliamentary: Committee to | direct your, attention to the necessity that exists for an amendment of the Factories Act bo that provision should; be' made to enable occupiers of factories in: boroughs and town ' districts,-where a poll has fixed a midweekly . half-holiday, to have the option of observing * the'half-holiday on. Saturdays by giving, snffi- . cient '.notice: to the inspector of factories. ..'ln r this connection, I; beg to ( draw your attention , to ' the retort -of the ohief inspector of fac- i torics in this year's report of the. Department of Labour, page XX, wherein ho suggests some ; suchi .alteration "as. that. now./askedi shonld be made! I trust, therefore, you will be pleased i to , give me early intimation 'that you favour , the proposal/and will make provision for the j alteration ; asked for during the .-.present ;sesami etc., -WiUiom;Pfyorj- Secretarj - .": j '. SUNDAY LABOUR BILL. .j : "The 'Hon.' J. : A.! Millar, Minister for Laionr. ! —Sunday. Labour Bill.—With reference-to the , above measure,.'introduced' by', Mr.- F. M.'-B. Eisheri M.P., -I i.am '-instructed: by. my Parlia- J inentajy Committee to respectfully direct your attention,,, and. through . you' .the' attention .of ; Governmeiit; and' Parliament,, to the fact ,that j sucha measure' is' entirely uncalled; for. when . present-day legiisl'atioh in' New Zealand is taken 1 lhte Mcouht. ; The Bill, strikes : right at', the ■ root' of ,the. Industrial, Conciliation and:'Arbi- " tratioii ! Act. -It is hot only'a' grosp interference , Vth'the awards:of the Court, Dut'it.would! also . e^riousiy'cripple mauy industries and employers of-.labopr, could not-.aiford to'iallw'their, employees,who work on Sun: days.a.day.off during the week'. The proposals, contained in the Bill are simply impracticable .so far as;, : 6ay,'-tramways, freezing works, dairy factories, hotels,'etc.', are.concerDed.. ' The' conditions under which workers ' in the above trades and businesses (whidh' art those'' which, 'would - be, most seriously affected) 1 are .concerned, have .all been carefully c'onsid-.'! ered By the Arbitration Court! which' has given 1 concessions'for'; Sunday wfirk,' either by . time 1 off (where practicable), periodical' holidays, or ! by awarding extra 'payment.for such work., The 1 ; provisions 'contained ltf- the. .Bill would,. therefore, .override, all Arbitration Court awards ! ' dealing with the'matter, : .and' in these,oircum- . stances I aim' instructed .to, 6ubmit. that' such j legislation isiboth! unnecessary and'exceedingly ■ undearablfl. : ; ! My. comniittee,, in thus bringing the', ihatter under your; notice, does eo. ih: tho ] hopo;.that;;steps■ .will''be 'taken to'prevent; tho ; roeaftuxe being'.placed on the Statute Books.* X '• «