WORKERS' AGREEMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 70, 20 September 1937, Page 10

WORKERS' AGREEMENTS

MOST SATISFACTORY

WAY

VOLUNTARY ARBITRATION

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day.

"I am of the opinion that it will be little short of a miracle if New Zealand industry is able to carry on successfully under the burden of the increased labour costs and taxation imposed by the present Government," said Mr. W. E. Anderson, secretary of the Auckland Employers' Association, on his return by the Aorangi from the International Labour Conference at Geneva. He said it would be unfitting to discuss the business dealt with at the conference until he had reported to the Government and the New Zealand Employers' Federation.

The International Labour Organisation, he said, consisted of 62 countries, 53 being represented at the conference. There were 101 Government delegates and,97 advisers; 38 employers' delegates and 73 advisers; and 36 workers' delegates and 85 advisers.

"I am strongly confirmed in my opinion," he added, "that- the most satisfactory industrial relations exist in those countries where employers and workers concerned accept the responsibility of deciding what conditions of employment shall be and negotiate, agreements, giving effect to these without the assistance of a third party as is the case in New Zealand. It is to be regretted that the Government did not give the scheme of compulsory conciliation and voluntary arbitration which was introduced in 1932 a further few years' trial."