HAMPERS PROGRESS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 10566, 20 April 1928, Page 6

HAMPERS PROGRESS

AND CAUSES UNEMPLOYMENT,

ARBITRATION SYSTEM OF NEW ZEALAND.

EMPLOYERS’ VIEWPOINT. SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS. {Press Association.: WELLINGTON, April 18. •The relaxation of a system _ believed to have the effect ol) limiting production was advocated in a papei on the “Arbitration System of tne Dominion,” presented by Mr 11, S. E. Turner oil behalf of the Associated Chambers of Commerce to the National Industrial Conference today. An analysis of two hundred replies received to the questionnaire issued by the Associated Chambers to one thousand representatives of business uud commetce indicated impatience with the regulations of the conditions and rewards of industry in a widespread degree. The report summarised the complaints which had been made against the system in the 1 allowing terms: — (a) That the system was good while wages and prices were rising, hut now that the tide has turned it does not operate to the general benefit. ill) The system limits production. (c) It increases costs. (d) It hampers progress. (o) It stifles initiative.

(!) It, promotes unemployment. (g) There is too great rigidity in the fixation and interpretation of conditions governing employment. (h) The welfare of the public is disregarded. A summary of tbe principal recommendations adopted by the conference of Associated Chambers was:— Tbe Arbitration Court should be continued if the functions and'constitutions ary revised; payment should be generally by results, and should be based on the value and volume ol output ; Tiio principles enunciated in it he Bill provided for payment, by piecework should be adopted; and there should be in general restriction of conditions under which industry may be carried on; and conditions in awards should be interpreted possibly not with cast-iron rigidity. Further, it should lx; made a penal offence for any persons to coerce or cajole any other to restrict his output. Wages should not- bo based on such artificial conditions ns •the size of a man’s family, or the pre-war cost of living, but must be based on the economic position of the Dominion as a whole, the state of the primary producers, and the interest of the consumer. Due regard mustbe given to the economic fallacy of attempting to maintain wanes' at an unduly high level under protection. Preference to unionists should be abolished. Full opportunity should he given for all parties affected to make representations through their own representatives or counsel, or through other medium. Employers should be advised and must lie induced to adopt methods and institute more efficient administration in order to do their full part in the economic readjustment now' facing the Dominion.

Finally, the conference stated it was not antagonistic to trades unionism hut favors its legitimate existence and operations. It has not and will not oppose anv increase in money or wages when justifiable. It nevertheless unequivocably affirms the principle that -II movement- ; n

wages, costs and prices must be directed towards the increase of real wages and the reduction of the cost of living. The paper contended that not only had the Court gone far beyond its original intention, hut bad gone far beyond the point where the St->te should interfere with economic forces.

It was subitted further that, as a result of its policy of basing wages nob on the market value of the product of the labor, but on the cost of living and the hindrance which this system caused to the fullest possible adoption of the principles of payment by results, the system might he charged with a large measure or the responsibility for the fact that the production 'per head in Xbw Zealand as shown by the official estimates (1924-2-5) was lower than it was in 1911. In that connection a freehand frank .discussion of the objection, from the Labor side, to piece-work was sought. ' Mr. AY. -f. Poison. of ifi" Farmers’ Union, agreed to-day with Mr T. 0. Bishop, of the Employers’ Federation, in a suggestion to do awav with the compulsory provisions of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act.

EMPLOYERS want COXCILI.ATION SYSTEM PRESERVED. APPEAL TO COURT SHOULD NOT BE COMPULSORY. Association.' WELLINGTON. April J<J. thie outcome of the industrial conference -so far is that all sections ot employers represented at the conference have come into line, and accepted as a compromise a proposal made by Air Bishop for the Employers’ •Federation that the eoneil ation system shall be preserved intact. >it that appeal to the Ai bitrat on Court no longer he made compulsory.