"LABOUR'S" INROADS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1192, 29 July 1911, Page 6

"LABOUR'S" INROADS.

ON FARM ENTERPRISE,

IS IT WIN, TIE, OR WRANGLE ?

.THE PROBLEM FACED,

Strong opinion was voiced at tho Farmers Union Conference yesterday as to the working of tho Arbitration and Conciliation Act. Tho matter was introducn "/ ; Ur - representing the Xorth Canterbury bnion, who moved: "That the conferenco tako into consideration tho operations of tho Arbitration ami Conciliation Act with rclerenco to its bearing on tho industries of tho Dominion, as it is of opinion that it is seriously retarding their development, and the Government bo asked to appoint a Hoyal Commission ot practical men to inquire into tho operations of the Act." Farmers Much Disturbed. Tho mover thought that this was ono of the most important questions that had come before them, and one of tho most important matters to the industries of *ew Zealand outside of the farmers. Ho had taken a great part in tho matter. Sffir,?lTY C T well , o ">t H«> position was dilhcult to ace, but tho farmers and employers did not ask for this Act. It ' proved that tho other sido ,iS n - e uw ° f tho Act as lon E as " suited their purposes, and when v it suited them no longer they would throw up in Vrtf r f° n i Md stTikc - Farmer s rif a f'Outerbury were- much disturbed, not so much by tho workers, but T?ni«n e, V < P de 7-, Tll ° , Farm labourers' Umon of Canterbury did not represent i m'ri ■ n CT t c ? on »e farm\L Jα '? Canto F bur . v - Their esecutne did not comprise the man who was an actual worker on the farm. Men were earning a hving by causing disturbance amongst tho farm men in tho disIns own opinion; They might Lve o go beforo tho Court in Canterbury in a month or two, but they were not fighting heir own men, but men out"id" th ? business They would be fighting who did not live on the farms, and did not intend o live, on them. He though that the time had arrived when there should be an impartial committee set up to inquire into tho working of tho Act Mr. Evans concluded by remarking that ho knew that tho Court was a fair Court -<no ar , hear)-and had given its judg. beforoT*' °° n iIC evidcMo brou ß"

Royal Commission Mentioned. tl» moH*™ * ( iT H i seconded tlie motion. A leader of tho farm labour--1,5 . W' as J" Us district last week to «t -1 "f m f. tllat, ¥ ( , hc hh °™™ failed ate witfl y as h cI ', tllc i' wild affiliate mi Hi tho general labourers in a hutro nductr; Vl "'V W0Ul(1 »»«'?»'tho A V, it \- n ™ S a COVert t,lrrat - 'J-'hc povcis only as far as it suited their own in % V r WaS cr, W ]i *e l «° industry n nil tactions. It was certain that, K 1 '" Caetcrhury, the cost of food-stuffs must rise. Hβ thought that I the Government should be asked to appoint a Eoy a] Commission to inquire into whether or not this Act was rcallv tho benefit which it was alleged f<, be. Tl ev tnoH- quite well the ulterior ends of labour. Labour stated that it would be so organised at the end of throa years as to capture every seat in tho Dominion, a.Tid they said they would then let tho farmers know whero they were. In tho intarcsts of the whole public, tho Act should be lmjuircd into. Mr. F. Hoclcly supported the resolution He asreejl that the labour I? K isl.ntiou of tlio Dominion was an experiment. The employers were anxious to conserve- the health or th« employees, andfopav a fair (lays wage for a fair day's work. Wo had been steadily drifting, and he thought working of legislation in other countries lor instance he thought that direct inqmry should bo made as to the work-in;-of tho Wages Board in Australia, as we i might be able to graft that, system on to ours, and perhaps perfect the systom under which we were working at tho pie-

Mr. D. Jones (Canterbury) remarked that stateuwnts had been made tlint tho cost of production had increased lhron»h the Arbitration Act, and that tho output of the individual worker had decreased. If this was so, it meant that, as a country we. must bo living on our capital and becoming poorer. It was not asked that the Act should bo swept away, but that a full inquiry should bo held into tho wholo matter, so that the pub be would know the full position, and, the facts were found to bo against the tourr, tho Act could be repealed. If not, of course, it must stand. Ho thought that the conference v.ns right in asking inr a lest of whether this experiment was a success or not.

Mr. Talbot (South Canterbury) said that lie was inclinotl to think that the motion might not lio judicious. Their experience of l?o.ral Commissions had not boon a very happy one. Personally, lie thought .«at tho commission might bo i-esultless, and tho position between Labour and Capital minlit be accentuated rather than allayed. He expressed regret that any delegate should have retailed what ho heard from tho man in tho .street. If they tcok notico of what everyone told them in -this war, they would never be. out of trouble.

Mr. Horrell said ho was prepared, on behalf of North CaMe.rbury, to strike out all tho words in (he motion to tho word "development." Ho was prepared to admit that the Act had for its end a hiimnne object, and wished to pi-e----vent nvils arisini hero that were rampant in the Old Country. 110 would liko it placed on record that they did not wish that stato of affairs. What they did ask was that, inquiry should be made into the working of (lie Act, and that if it was not working satisfactorily suggestions should bo made to better the stale of affairs. The Shufflers' Anchor, JLr. A. L. ]). I'rasor staled that ho. had the smallest ivsnect for Itoval Commissions. They were the sheet anchor of the shuffler, Ho had been on Koyal Commissions, and he had been before t.liem. and h<> v;as convinced that they weJ'o Iho most extravagant luxury n Government. could indulge in. Ho protested strongly against a Eoyai Commission iu the pre-

sent, case, and thought that tho matter could easily bo dealt >vith by tho oonferenco or a select cominitteo. If neces. sary they might call in tho advice of business men. Hβ had no doubt whatever that a committee of the conference, with outside hell), could submit satisfactory propofttls to the Government. Personally ho had no doubt that tho Act needed alteration and amendment. He moved an amendment:— "That the conference appoint a Select Committee- to take into consideration tho operation of tho Arbitration and Conciliation Act with reference to its bearing on tho industries of tho Dominion; that 6uch committee shall have power to call outsubmit the results of its deliberations to the Minister for Labour for hia side evidence if necessary, and shai , favourable consideration. ,5 . Mr. Ensor seconded tho amendment.' Ho thought that they could force the question themselves without tho Royal Commission. Mr. Nevins said that when they considored that nine men could form a union and summon them to attend the Court from oiio end of New Zealand bo the other, it was a serious matter. Then, if the Act did not suit tho men, they could throw it over. The Royal Commissions which they had had anything to do with had not been satisfactory. Further, it' tho report of the proposed committee went to the Minister for Labour he did not think that it would do much good.

Mr. Makgill thought that tho amendment was in tho right direction, but the difficulty of calling evidenco would bo a bis one. Ho thought that they should ask representatives from labour to meet them. They would have conferred a public benefit if they had met and discussed impartially a question which seriously affected both sides of the conirauu.

Mr. D. Jones (Canterbury) said that tho amendment meant a huge inquiry, which might cost them .£SOO or .£IOOO very easily. The. inquiry had to bo exhaustive; otherwise_ it would be useless. They had to consider seriously before committing themselves.

Welfare .of New Zealand Involved. Hγ. H. D. Vavasour thought; that t|io wholo welfare, of the Dominion'was involved in this question. Ho took it that tho Government would try to get at the root of tho wholo matter, irespectivo of any party considerations whatever. Ho ■thought that a. Royal Commission would ]>o of benefit to tho wholo community. As to tho expense, llio question was the most vital ouo of tho day, and should be gone into in spito of tho cost ' Ho favoured tho first resolution. Between Two Evils. Major Lusk (Auckland)' stated that they were between two evils. They had to chooso the least, and he thought this wns tho Boyal Commission. The expense was a mero bagatelle- in proportion to the. importanco of the matter at issue. , Mr. Sheat remarked that a Eoyal Commission could call for papers and take evidenco on oath, and this was the only , means of obtaining what they wanted to know, viz.: whether they wore getting value from the Act. Tho conference, ho pointed out, could not call for evidence as it had no powers whatever. Immediate Action Necessary. Mr. Prascr, in pointing to tho necessity for immediate action, remarked that it was futilo to hope l for a Eoyal Commission from tho present Parliament, as this was its final session. A committee such as ho suggested, however, could go into tho matter, at once, and put it beforo tho Minister for Labour this year. Mr. Talbot was of opinion that the amendment was going beyond tho depth of tho conference, altogether, and Mr. W. Birch agreed that tho conference should not set up such a committee. Mr. Horrell thought that it might bo well to lcavo tho matter to tho Advisory Committee, who might bring tho matter : befpre the Minister for Labour at iw opportune time. Mr. Fraser pointed out that the presentwas the time to act, as the Government had given notico of its intention Jo introduce an amendment to tho Arbitration Act this session. Ho thought that a committee should at least bo set.up to watch the progress of the Act, and mako any suggestions which it thought fit, to the Minister.

The president said that what ho would do, iu tbis event, would bo to send out a circular and copies of the Bill for consideration ami suggestions. . After eome further discussion, it was decided to adopt Hie following amendment moved by Mr. Frasor:— "That a committee be sot up, such committee to bo tho Advisory Committee of the union, to consider the operations of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, and' watch the proposed amending Act now be- , foro Parliament, with authority to lay any proposals agreed to by the committee beibro the Minister for Labour for his favourable consideration."