FOR INDUSTRIAL PEACE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 194, 18 May 1928, Page 10

FOR INDUSTRIAL PEACE

FINAL STAGES OF CONFERENCE t.’ . PARTIES SPLIT ON VITAL POINT APPEAL FOR COOPERATION On the rock of arbitration the contending interests represented at the National Industrial Conference split yesterday; and the tenor of the debate made it clear that the conference when it rises to-day will be in the same position as the special sub-committee—unable to arrive at a unanimous recommendation. Separate sets of proposals on the Industrial. Conciliation and Arbitration Act were submitted by both sections, and these it is intended to present to the Government The outstanding contribution to the debate was Mr. T. 0. Bishop’s appeal to all sides to muster up courage and take a plunge into the system of optional arbitration proposed by the employers’ group. The debate was unfinished when conference adjourned until this morning.

“TAKE THE PLUNGE”

NEW ARBITRATION SYSTEM 1 A CASE FOR, COURAGE MR. T. 0. BISHOP’S APPEAL An earnest appeal to both interests represented to be courageous and take a plunge into a new sea of arbitration—the optional instead of the compulsory system—was made by Mr. T. 0. Bishop, of the New Zealand Employers’ Federation, at the National Industrial Conference yesterday when presenting / the employers' recommendations in connection with tho I.C. and A. Act. l .“lt is our firm conviction," said Mr. Bishop, “that what is the matter with the Arbitration Act is that it attempts to do the impossible. It is impossible to make arbitration compulsory, and that has been proved during the years of our experience. We want therefore to make it optional. And while we make references -to the Court optional, we are earnestly desirous of protecting the weak organisations (which, it is feared, without the protection of the arbitration system might suffer directly) until'such time as they have become accustomed to the alteration of the system. The clauses of our recommendations to-day have been framed with the object of substituting optional for compulsory arbitration, at the same time protecting those organisations which have grown up under the compulsory i system and which might find themselves in difficulty if that protection were suddenly withdrawn from them. Prevention of Fighting. r;"We realise in cases of serious disputes between employers and workers,” proceeded Mr. Bishop, “that it is impossible in the ultimate issue to abrogate the right of strike or the right of lock-out. The whole power of nego- ; tiation of the workers with the employers depends upon that right to withhold their labour. We are of opinion that that right cannot be'denied in the ultimate issue. Our experience has shown us that any attempt to deny that right is impossible of attainment. . . A.great deal can be done to minimise the risk of fighting occurring. We can provide machinery for thorough investigation of disputes before a deadlock is reached. We have in the .present instance endeavoured to provide the most perfect machinery we could, with the object of ensuring a thorough investigation of differences; we gone as far as it is humanly possible to go to prevent a dispute finally resulting in a fight.

Sense of Responsibility.

"We hare endeavoured to frame these proposals so as to make them as acceptable as possible to the workers’ delegates, while at the same time maintaining the principle we so strongly desire to bring into operation, namely, substitution of optional for compulsory arbitration. We quite realise that there is tremendous difficulty in suddenly changing a system that has been in operation for thirty years.* We wish to bring about this substitution, and what we ore aiming at is that - employers and .workers shall accept the responsibility of framing their own' awards and agreements. Both sides in the past have been too ready to shirk that responsibilty and follow the easy road of putting the burden on the shoulders of the Judge of the Arbitration Court.

. We want to establish a sense of ; responsibility in the minds of the leaders of industrial organisations of both sides, and we want them io do their own work and frame their own awards and agreements. We believe our proposals give the opportunity for that to be done.

"While they do afford an opportunity for that experiment to be undertaken, they at the same time preserve intact the -whole of the existing machinery, so that if our endeavour should fail it would ' be quite-easy to revert to the position as it exists to-day. We do not think that if there is a chance of co-operation between the respective organisations we will ever go back. If we could once secure that sense of responsibility ou both ‘ sides to do their own work and make their own agreements, I do not think there will ever be a desire to go back to the system of compulsory arbitration. “We will not be disturbing our industrial machinery, and if the experiment does not succeed, all that is necessary is to admit our failure and revert to the old system. A Definite Appeal. •

“I want to appeal to you. gentlemen, as earnestly as I can." continued Mr. Bishop. “In this conference we have assembled representatives of New Zealand labour organisations and representatives of all sections of employers, and the Government has entrusted us with the work of framing legislation to suit our own case.

All that is required to enable us to turn out a perfect job is a little hit of courage—a little bit of cpurage'to take a plunge'in waters that way appear to be cold.

A Labour delegate: And deep I Mr- Bishop: We idust realise that we have to think nationally on this subject, cannot alloys sectional ipterests- to

warp our judgment, nor can we allow a sentimental desire to protect weaker interests to influence us sufficiently -to make us depart from what we believe to be a principle. It would not be right 11-? to protect the weaker interests, but it would not be right to allow our sympathetic consideration for those interests to cause us to depart from what we believe to be an essential amendment of this arbitration system of ours. National Outlook Wanted. "My appeal is that delegates on both sides will think nationally on this question. and will sink any desire to secure immediate benefit for their own particular interests; that they will take the plunge into the water, in spite of its looking cold, and earnestly co-operate with each other in making a new attempt to create the right atmosphere and the right machinery for the adjustment of differences in industry. “If that is done," concluded Mr, Bishop, “this conference will bo an historic, occasion. It will be a landmark in industrial progress, and everyone of us will have occasion to look back on it with some pride and satisfaction in having played his part thereein.” (Applause.)

Mr. T. Bloodworth said it was all very well for such able swimmers _as Mr. Bishop and himself to plunge into the cold water, which might turn out to be hot water, but many members of industry had not ever learnt to swim. Mr. O. Mcßrine had no objection to cold water, but he had an objection ,to cloudy or muddy water. In his opinion the employers’ proposals involved a plunge from a great height—the height of industrial security—into waters that were not too clear; and ’ there might be rocks at th©’ bpttonij

SHOPS AND FACTORIES

OPERATION OF LEGISLATION NO RECOMMENDATIONS FRAMED No recommendations hare been made to the National Industrial Conference by the special sub-committee in connection with the Apprentices Act. the Factories Act,, and the Shops and Offices A_ct. i The committee in its report presented yesterday outlined the following reasons for its action: — . “As regards the Apprentices Act, the sub-committee was informed that the Minister of Labour was arranging a conference of representatives of apprenticeship committees, and it was considered that conference would be the best body td consider the amendment of the Apprentices Act. In respect of the Factories Act. the sub-committee had not before it sufficient evidence of important amendments being necessary to warrant it submitting any recommendations. “As to the Shops and Offices Act, this Act was amended only last session, and on that occasion all the interested parties had the opportunity of expressing their views before the Labour Bills Committee of the' House of Representatives. In view of these circumstances, it was considered by the sub-committee that sufficient time should be allowed. to the parties to ascertain the effect of tho amendments made last year before the question of the further amendment ot the Act is reopened. Further, the interests concerned in the Shops and Offices Act are so diverse that the sub-commit-tee considered that the interested parties should make independent representations to the. Government, as to amendments which they desire. ’ Surprise and. regret were expressed by several workers’ delegates that definite recommendations were not made in connection with the Shops and Offices Act and the Factories Act to cover such cases as girls working in cabarets and dance halls after 10.30 p.m., payment of clerks for overtime, the working week for restaurant workers, and other matters. . .. On behalf-Of the sub-committee, it was explained that ’it had been considered that the matters which were reported on to the sub-committee were not of . vital importance or of the same importance as the other subjects under review. Full representations had not been made, and it had been decided to leave the matter open. _ „ , On the motion of Mr. J. Roberts, seconded by the Hon. T. S. Weston, .it was decided to suggest to representatives ot the parties concerned in the Factories Act and the Shops and Offices Act the advisability of meeting and discussing such amendments- as they might deem necessary with a view to making joint representations to the Government. The report was adopted unanimously.

PRICE OF BOOTS MR. COLBECK CORRECTS HIS FIGURES. Figures quoted by him the previous day when discussing protective tariffs were corrected by Mr. IT. Colbeck at the National Industrial Conference yesterday. . Mr. Colbeck prefaced his correction by relating the old story of the farmer who purchased some damp powder and on arrival home put it in the oven to dry, with the result that it “went off suddenly.” "That is what happened to me yesterday when Mr. Barber put the match to the powder.” said Mr. Colbeck, amidst laughter. "For a moment ‘it upset my equilibrium.” (Loud laughter.) Mr.- Colbeck said that he had stated that boots which cost 12s. Bd. in London were retailed in Auckland at £1 Ils- MM. The correct figures were: Cost price in London. 16s. Bd.; retail price in Auckland, £1 Ils. lid.