INDUSTRIAL TRUCE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 104, 29 October 1925, Page 6

INDUSTRIAL TRUCE

MR, WESTON'S SUGGESTION

MEETS WITH FAVOURABLE RECEPTION. (BI TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL TO THE POST,)

AUCKLAND, This Day

There is a possibility that the idea of a three years' industrial truce, as advanced by Mr. T. Shailer Western, president of the New Zealand Employers' Federation, would moot with

;;. favourable reception in the local trade union world. Mr. T. Bloodworth, to whom the pro-'- "

ferrcd, said the suggestion was well worthy of serious consideration. The last timo a suggestion of the kind was made it came from the workers' side. That was when the Arbitration Court adopted the policy of fixing basic wages and adjusting bonuses in accordance with the rise or fall indicated by the cost of living figures. "We then asked that before this policy -was put into operation a national industrial eonfevpnre should be called by the Government to consider the question. Our proposal did not receive the support of the Employers' Assoc'jitiou then, and the conferencewas not held. I am of opinion that by failing to call that conferenc tho Government of that day made a very big error of judgment. For my part (said Mr. Bloodworth), I am perfectly certain that a consultation between the two parties can do no liarm, and if it is begun in the right spirit by. both sides it might do a whole lot of good."

"I may mention," added Mr. Bloodworth, "that one problem we have to deal with which does not appear to have been mentioned by Mr. Weston is unemployment. Maintaining the rate of real wages is a good thing, but ensuring that a worker will always have an opportunity to earji wages is at least equally important.'s

Mr. S. E. Wright, secretary to the Auckland Employers' Association, stated in an interview ,that no satisfactory ' arrangement could be brought about. unless all employers and every union concerned became parties to an agreement. Such a truco as suggested would, from the employers' point of view, be a step in the right direction. He said there was no doubt the stabilisation of industries for three years would give them an opportunity of getting on a better footing. The continual alteration of conditions as at present tended to upset industry and reduce output, while stabilisation of wages conditions would make for a bigger output for the same money, and the workers would undoubtedly be more contented. He thought Mr. Weston was right in his assumption that it would probably lead to a decrease in the cost of Hying. While the Employers' Federation and the unions registered under the Arbitration Act might conic to some agreement, the real difficulty would be in bringing in the free-lance employers and unions which had cut adrift from the Arbitration. . Court. .The scheme to be workable would have to be so framed that all employers would be-brought under it, as was done with awards of the Court. The question would bo discussed by. .the committee of ■ the Auckland Employers' Association at an early date.