OUR INDUSTRIAL LIFE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 226, 18 June 1920, Page 7

OUR INDUSTRIAL LIFE

THE PROPOSED NATIONAL CONFERENCE WHY THE EMPLOYERS DECIDED AGAINST II (To the Editor.) Sir,— I am instructed by the Advisory Board of the New Zealand Employers' Federation to refer to some of the opinions expressed in the leading article headed "An Opportunity Missed," in The-Dominion of tho 12th inst, and '• to submit the following. reply thereto. In Iho first place, although the article generally doC3 not approve of the attitude adopted by employers 60 far ns tho Proposed national conference is concerned, pleasure was expressed that you had given 6uch' promiuenco to the matter, as it is thought if the Press generally made the discussion of industrial problems a regular feature in their columns, it would do more to educate BUblic opinion than any other one tiling could do.

The representative nature of tho iff cent mooting cannot be questioned. ,'lt was probably tho most reprAsenfcalivo I withering of actual employers o\ F labour ever held in the Dominitw, and instead of Bhowing "a pocr sense of tUeir responsibilities to the comn\unm- us a whole," it may quite safely ]A said that a sense of that responsibility was tho dominant feature of the whole of the proceedings. It was felt that to agree to a national conference at the present time would bo to give way to a proposal put forward by'those who had not either the experience or knowledge of industrial matters possessed by those actually engaged in our trades and intluslries, and that to agree to such n proposal would be detrimental to the Interests of the Dominion as a 'Whole. As a matter of fact, the easiest way out for the meeting—looking to the present only—would have been to ■•have agreed to the conference being held, ns then the responsibility would to a largo oxtent have been placed on the conference instead pf upon the organisation' I represent. . The question was fully'discussed in all its bearings for two long days, and as tho meeting proceeded the conviction deepened that to agree to what would amount to meeting those who have been aptly described as "determined to challenge the whole existing structure of capitalist industry" would be to commit industrial suicide, and would still further strengthen tho hold the extremists have orer labour in New Zealand at the present day.

JRemember, too, that tho meeting consisted exclusively of those actually aimed in the industries, their interests being don? the lines of industrial' peace, <md that from selfish motives alone they would ho compelled to welcome nnj proposal which promised even the chance of progreao in that direction. Another aspect of the matter in that it is questionable if the time lias arrived, in any case, for a national conference, and whether to adopt that course would not he beginning at the wrong' end. It is believed that much spade work is necessary to "bring the parties into that frame of mind, which by fostering something in the way of mutual trust and confidence would alone enablo good results to bo secured from it big conference at which all industrial interests would have to be represented. Failing flint, the result could only be that ncademic discussions would ensue, upon whatever _ might be meant by the term "basic principles," and more than j likely 'a, widening of the breaoli which I h.t prespnt exists would result. Tlnia tho meeting came to the. decision that the cure must start at tho bottom, or, in other words, in tho 6liopa and factories of the Dominion. Better relations must be established between employers and their own workers, and if Hint is scoured it must follow that the way will bo prepared for good work to lie done by trade and district. and.only by that means for national conferences, as in each case then' both employers and workers would bo educated as to each other's needs and the way oper.ed for real conferences between those on both sides actually engaged in the trades and industries. Official Labour in New; Zealand to-day has declared unreservedly for tho 'abolition of the present system,. and it is certain that Puch a policy does not represent the desire or aim of (ho great Mdy of the workers in this Dominion. Time, however, must be allowed for that body to become articulate instead of being swamped by a, noisy minority ns at present. Nothing is surer than that the workers of this Dominion will sooner or later take the management of their affairs out of the hands of the extremists who have combined to securo control of the trndw and industries of this country, and that being so, it would be worse thon foolish to agree to meet tho latter in conference, and thus aid them. in their scheme to wipe the em-

plovers out of existence. Up to the pTesent. the New Zealand Employers' Federation to not. feken any part in tlio public controversy in connection with industrial .matters, but as yonr article indic-ates that you . are not nwaro of what has been done in recent years by this federation to meet the changing situation, it in deemed advisable to now morn fully strife <ho frfisons for the attitude, adopted by the meeting, to explain something of the federation's ment npfivitii?, and

In this way slow that the New Zealand employers have not been wanting in enterprise, nor have they left in the. air those questions upon which tho meeting

reanhed definite conclusions. The fact is that the federation noi only recognises the necessity for "organised and conwrehensive effort" on the lines indicated in Mia recommendations made by the meeting, but sus-

tained effort along those lines has been maintained for the past five or six years, and it is believed tlmt the comparative freedom from strikes and perious industrial trouble in New Zealand

is in some measure due to what has been done in this direction.

The Advisory Board of the federation, while it may be 6aid to consist of hardheaded, practical business men, contains amongst its members some with a vision, and to this is due the fact that not

within the last few months, or this year or last year, or for political reasons, or personal popularity—but at least five years ago they recognised that a social change.was imminent and began to make preparation for it.Mr. T. Shailcr Weston, who has been president of the federation for the past six years, and who is at present absent from the Dominion, might be said to bo the leader of the new movement, and

his publio utterances, especially at the , last three annual, meetings of the federation, which received favourable notice in your own columns, indicate to some extent at least tho trend of the federation's desires and activities.

The Advisory Board recognised tho first necessity to be the education of employers themselves, and lo aid in that direction determined to establish a monthly publication under tho name of "Tho Industrial Bulletin."

Tho first number was published in February, 1.91G, so that for nearly four and a half years hundreds of employers of labour in New Zealand have . regularly received a paper devoted to the promotion of industrial peace. In that publication, world-wide, information has been supplied regarding the very matters about which you express tho opinion that the recent meeting did not 'consider it necessary 'to provide proper effort to deal with, \rhuo tho actual position is that articles and information on improved mutual relations, industrial education, more scientific management, shop organisation, together with the dissemination of litera-

material for short talks to workers, in addition to details of results in connection with premium, bonus, piecework and profit-snaring and 00-partner-ship schemeii have been made leading features of tho "Bulletin," besides which many other subjects have been dealt with as rofcronco to its columns will show. In addition to that, district employers' associations- and other affiliated bodies linve been recommended and encouraged to lend their assistance, with tho result that meetings liavo been held-oil ovor tho Dominion to discuss these matters.' Lecturers—university professors and prominent industrialists, as well as executive and staff membere-have boon used for tho purpose of carrying out the federation programme.

The results aro apparent, all over th» ; Dominion, In many shops, factorittf and warehouses there aro periodical staff and workers' meetings. Profit" sharing, piecework and other schemes, such as suggestion boxes, followed by discussions on tho proposals recoiveu, short talks, social meetings, etc., are at work making lull use of the human element, bo that to-day more than ever before in New Zealand, thero is evidence of a better mutual understanding in many of our industrial .establishments. In short, it may without, hesitation be said, that the quiet, persistent, consistent work of the federation during the past Ave or six years is now bearing fruit, and only those such as the majority of the delegates present at last week's meeting know what disastrous results would almost certainly follow a conference with those who would, if they could, prevent tho growth of mutual confidence and understanding, a sure foundation for which' has been kid by the earnest efforts of those who have been engaged in tho work indicated above.

Sir, which is the practical and which' the academic—the work of the federation persisted in for years, now begin-, ning to show results which there is every reason to believe will 'be permanent, and increasingly valuable, 'or tfhe demand for a national conference as promoted by tho Federation of Labour—the extremists' organisation in this country—which could only end in resultless discussion except in so far as anything done might help towards the destruction of the present social and industrial systoms, and place in control, those whom your own article describes as men "who are apparently intent only on stirring up strife for their own ends, and are the enemies of constructive progress"?

In view, of these facts, it is hoped it will be recognised there has been no want of enterprise on tho part of the, federation, and that instead of being blamed for having left things in the air, it deserves credit for having adopted a policy which it is in the interests alike of employers, workers and the, community as a whole, that it should bo .allowed to develop along the lines upon which it is now working moro or less successfully. So far the New Zealand Employfits' Federation is concerned it is compelled to decline to be a party to a conference- iinder present conditions, and' it believes it will have tho force of public opinion behind it in carrying on its work of improving the relations between employers and workers in their own establishments in tho hope that in; due course the time may come when, a national conference might be held without any risk of disaster to the trades and industries of the Dominion.—Tours faithfully, ■, , WILLIAM PEYOE, General Secretary. New Zealand Employers' Federation. June 15. 1