WORLD CONDITIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 68, 20 March 1936, Page 11

WORLD CONDITIONS

N.Z. LEGISLATION

THE LABOUR PROGRAMME

MASTER PRINTERS MEET

"Any survey of external conditions must be made with the greatest diffidence," said the president of the Federation of Master Printers of New Zealand, Mr. A. Dennison, opening the annual conference in Wellington, which was held on Tuesday and Wednesday. "There is undoubtedly reason for gratification in the evidence of commercial and industrial recovery, though progress has been so far from uniform that its stability cannot be regarded as assured. Recovery has apparently been greatest in Britain, and there has been a substantial improvement in the United States and Canada, but conditions on the Continent of Europe still arouse serious misgivings. Countries that have maintained democratic government exhibit less social unrest and greater economic progress than those which have plunged into revolutionary experiments." TROUBLOUS AGE. Having touched in detail on the posi-tion-in Europe, Mr. Dennison continued: —"From the point of view of international aspirations, of the intense feeling of nationalism abroad, and of the restrictions placed upon the flow of international trade through high tariff barriers, managed currencies, quotas, and embargoes, all of which might be regarded as comprising a very fierce form of warfare in peace time, we live in an age that is truly troublous and uncertain. Removed so far from the vital sphere of European affairs as, happily we are, we can but rely on the sagacity of our statesmen in negotiation and counter-negotiation, and fervently hope that they may be successful in averting what could be none other than a catastrophe, coupled with happenings impossible of conception, but which could not fail to deliver a staggering blow to the foundation of Western civilisation." POLITICS AND ECONOMICS. Dealing with the situation in New Zealand, Mr. Dennison continued: "We are now confronted with a prospect of political control over economic activities, to a greater extent than appeared probable a year ago. Having achieved 'the conquest of political power by constitutional means,' the Labour Party is now proceeding, as rapidly as possible, to bring into operation its programme of State ownership and State control. Much has already been done by administrative action; more has been promised immediately the formal authority of legislation has beefl obtained." Mr. Dennison referred to the reduction In hours of work, the proclamation of a basic wage; the restoration of weekly wages to the 1931 rates, wages payable under the Factories Act to be raised, and workers' compensation to be increased, as outlined in the Labour Party's programme, and continued: "Any of these changes would represent a serious disturbance of existing conditions in the printing industry; in combination they constitute the most formidSfble programme that has ever been presented. • It is, however, premature to express an opinion on them. An assurance has been given by the Minister of Labour that the application of the major proposals will be determined by the Court of Arbitration, to which employers in the various industries will present reasons for modifying the actual operation of the general policy." Legislation incorporating these proposals, said Mr. Dennison, would be carefully watched, and criticism would be prompted only by the welfare of New Zealand. GOVERNMENT'S POLICY. • "The programme of industrial legislation," he concluded, "should manifestly be considered in its relation to the Government's declared policy of fostering secondary industries, in which the plans announced by the Minister of Labour will be tested. There is also promised legislation to procure rationalisation in industry. This will also require very careful consideration when its actual terms are known." I A considerable number of remits affecting various aspects of the industry j were considered by the meeting. The following officers were elected I for the ensuing year:—Mr. H. Harris I (Dunedin), president; Mr. B. C. Jacobs j (Auckland), vice-president; Mr. A. | Dennison (Auckland), immediate pastpresident; and Messrs. E. Aldridge (Auckland). H. Coull (Wellington), E. Darroch (Timaru). H. W. Lattey (Wellington). W. J. Palamontain (Wairarapa), T. Somerville (Dunedin), J. Stout (Christchurch), and J. F. Thorn (Invercargill).-