N.Z. EMPLOYERS’ FEDERATION

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 17, 14 October 1927, Page 6

N.Z. EMPLOYERS’ FEDERATION

ANNUAL MEETING A DIFFICULT YEAR REVIEWED Ths annual meeting or the New Zealand Employers’ Federation was held in the Federation Building, The Terrace, yesterday, tho president (lion. T. S. Weston, M.L.C.) in the chair. There were present Messrs. A. C. Mitchell (vice-president), H. Coull (treasurer. representing also the Master Printers’ Association), Dr. C. P. Knight, T. Ballinger, W. Hopkirk, W. H. Bennett, ana the following representatives of the provincial associations and affiliated bodies: —Messrs. Albert Spencer, S. E. Wright (Auckland), H. Mainland, F. Boss, F. Campbel), W. McLay, A. J. Curtis (Wellington); S. Wilkinson. J. W. Graham, W. Cecil Prime, A. Burns (Canterbury); W. It. Hayward, A. Smellie. A. S. Cookson, F. W. Mitchell (Otago); G. H. Roach, R. M. Chadwick (Hawke’s Bay); C. W. Wood, R. Orwin (South Canterbury); W. McKenzie, F. Jackson (Manawatu); R. H. Williams, A. H. Brennan, D. A. Pickering (Wairarapa); A. S. Sandford, C. H. Wynyard (Taranaki); J. McCrostie, G. R. Cooper (Southland); A. Willis. A. Weekes (Wanganui); W. J. Butler (Grey-mouth-Hokitika SawmiUers’ Trade Protection Guild); A. Seed (Dominion Federated SawmiUers’ Association); F. V. Sanderson (North Island Freezing Co.’s Association); J. M. Fleming (New Zealand Electrical Federation); W. J, Osborn (New Zealand Booksellers’ Association); P. Coyle (United Licensed Victuallers’ Association); F. J. Oakes (Unietd Licensed Victuallers’ Association); J. Milne (representing affiliated organisations); W. E. Fuller (New Zealand Shipowners’ Federation); F. J. Ballinger (New Zealand Master Plumbers’ Federation); J. Mcllraith (New Zealand Master Grocers’ Federation); W. Simm (New Zealand Drapers’ Federation). Annual Report. The annual report, which was adopted, stated that the twenty-fiit'h .year of the life of the federation had not been a happy one for those upon whose shoulders falls the burden of carrying on industries. “Great as was the drop in export values for the year ended July, 1926, as compared with the year ended July, 1925, the values for the year ended July, 1927, showed a further drop of nearly two million sterling,” proceeded the report. “The reduction of our national income, though not unforeseen, came so suddenly that we were caught unprepared, and for tho first year of the reduction our imports exceeded exports by approximately four millions. For the year now under review the excess was one and a quarter millions. The painful process of adjustment of expenditure bad therefore to be faced, and consequently a lean year for all employers has been experienced with more unemployment for workers than New Zealand has known for many years. After all, deflation has been long overdue, and the return two years ago io the gold standard by the British Em.pire inevitably entailed lower profits both not and gross. Moreover, labour disputes have made the process of adjustment more difficult. The shipping strike in New Zealand and Australia and the coal strike in England caused heavy losses to the farmers ’of those countries, and threw the machinery for supplying the English market by carefully graduated shipments hopelessly out of gear. Certainly the main cause of unemployment in this Dominion, though not the only cause, was these two strikes.

“There are encouraging signs that the country is actively preparing to make up for lower prices by increased production; in some industries, as for instance dairying, the 1 increase already achieved is substantial. The farmers are facing the situation with courage, and putting forth their best efforts. Accompanying the fall in export prices there has been a fall in the prices of many manufactured lines which compete with our locally made goods, and the secondary industries Baris suffered along with the primary. Labour’s Extravagant Demands. “Fortunately, the year has been free from any prolonged labour troubles, although there have been some short stoppages in connection with coal mining ad waterside work. So far, Labour unions have continued, when awards expire, to present extravagant demands, not only for increased wages, but for shorter hours, and other conditions which if granted could result only in increased costs. In most cases during the year, such demands have been withdrawn in Conciliation Council, and settlements have been arrived at practically on the lines of old awards. There is certainly no justification for seeking now awards at all in most esses; the worker who is wise is satisfied to hold what he has. Unless Labour and management. unite in stimulating production, money wages will tend to fall. In certain directions Labour should make concessions. In many industries shift work and overtime work sire essential, and cannot be avoided. The principle of tho eight hour day is established, and no one wants a man to work more than eight hours a day without extra payment, but a new principle has crept into many awards that all work done outside of hours between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. must be paid for at overtime rates. In these cases, if a man comnieuces work at 6 p.m., and works an 'eight-hour shift, he must bo paid time and a half till 10 p.m. and double time from 10 p.m. till 2 a.m. In the case of waterside work, the time rate being 2s. 4d. an hour, if a man is required to start at 5 a.in. he would have to be paid 4s. Sd. an hour until 7 a.m. even though he worked not longer than eight hours. Shift work is worth a little extra as compared with all day work, but it is not worth what is now being paid. . Overtime payments have become quite unreasonable, and they add enormously to the cost of many essential services. The elimination’ of wasteful expenditure in this and similar matters would help to provide more employment. “We believe that employers are doing their utmost in' accordance with the policy of this federation, t(> attain maximum efficiency in their methods,. but the co-operation of Labour is essential if tho best results are to be obtained. The unions must play their part in helping along the adjustment to meet the new conditions, or else they must accept responsibility for declining trade and continued unemployment.” The address of the president is reported under separate heading. Election of Officers. The following were appointed officers for tha ensuing year-.—President, Hon. T. S. Weston, M.L.C.; vice-president, Mr. A, C. Mitchell; treasurer, Mr. H. Coull; executive members, the presidents of Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago Associations, and Messrs. W. McLay, C. W. Wood (representing other associations), and Messrs. W. Reece and J. Milne (representing affiliated organisations); trustees, Messrs. A. H. Miles, T. Ballinger, W. H. Bennett, and Dr. C. P. Knight; auditor, Mr. W. C. Stephens, F.P.A., N.Z.