EMPLOYERS' YEAR

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 76, 27 September 1916, Page 2

EMPLOYERS' YEAR

' A QUIET PERIOD LABOUR IN WAR TIME The effect of the war upon the activities of employers' organisations is noted in the report of the New Zealand Employers' Federation, presented at the annual meeting to-day. "The period under notice," the report states, '*has not been productive of .any particularly .outstanding features, as owing .to'-lhe necessities of the war having fully occupied the attention of Parliament there had not been any attempt to introduce labour legislation, nor have there been any industrial disturbances of any magnitude." Minor industrial disturbances, the principal being the Petone woollen workers' strike, were dealt with under the strike clauses of the Act. . INCREASE IN DISPUTES. " There has riot, however, been any decrease in the number of disputes dealt with by Conciliation Councils and the Arbitration Court. On the contrary, the claims made during the year have exceeded those of the 1914-15 period. As a'- matter of fact practically every workers' union has taken the opportunity of.; filing claims for increased wages, shorter hours, and more restricted conditions of employment. Eariy in the year representations were made to the I Arbitration Court that the time had come for sonic, decision as to tho Court's policy regarding claims made so far as tho demands for increased wages are concerned, on the ground of the increased cost of living. It was pointed out to the Court that increasing wages simply accentuated tho trouble, and that every time wages were raised the cost of living went higher as a consequence, and that in any case it was inadvisable to raise wages during war time, when abnormal increases in prices were being- experienced. The Court, havitg evidently considered the matter, decided to grant a war bonus,of 10 per cent, to the lowerpaid workers, and in its memorandum suggested ' that employers generally might well consider whether workers in their employ should not be granted a war bonus on the same lines as that contained in this award.' The lead thus given has been followed by many em- ! ployers, with the result that, while a great many disputes have been dealt with under the Act during the past year, the indications are that during the continuance of the war they will "be considerably fewer in number." LABOUR. LEGISLATION. j "As already indicated, the Government did not attempt the introduction of new industrial legislation last session. .Several private members (principally those- of advanced Labour views) introduced a number of measures, which white they had little chance of passing, gave the Parliamentary , Committee some anxiety during the time they appeared upon, the -Parliamentary Order Papers. Legislation dealing with war matters so fully occupied the attention of the members, of both Houses, however, that none of the proposals was ever seriously considered." Special representations were made regarding the Finance Bill, with the result- that while the Bill-, as it eventually passed into law, contained provisions . not approved by the Advisory Board, several. amendments of considerable value to the trading community of the Dominion were secured. FOR THE FUTURE. "The first duty of all citizens of the Empire- being to do .what they can to assist, in obtaining a satisfactory _onclusion to the Avar, other matters are necessarily placed in the background." continues the report. "On that account it has been found impossible to undertake any organising work of any importance The necessity for still greater combination amongst employers will be- more than ever apparent when the war is over and the problems resulting therefrom have to be faced. There is much speculation as to what the future has in store, but it is impossible yet to form any reEable opinions regarding the difficulties which may have to be met. It is certain, however, that there is, both here and in Australia, a small- but extremely dangerous number of men who are apparently determined to seize every opportunity, as. it offers, to promote antagonism between employers and workers. Upon those who have the best, interests of the Empire at heart there devolves the duty of doing everything possible to encourage industry, promote trade and tlie best relations between capital and labour if the winning of the war is lo result in lasting benefit to the Dominion.