TIMBER EMPLOYERS’ ATTITUDE.

Grey River Argus, 25 July 1922, Page 4

TIMBER EMPLOYERS’ ATTITUDE.

»We trust Mr Massey will not find it | convenient to seek for any difficulties such as he suggested might possibly be found to legislating at once in the ‘ direction suggested. The non-commit- ' tai attitude of Ministers shows their * special regard for the vested interests. • It is be hoped the enquiry which the Prime Minister promises in relation to | the disposal of timber areas will eventuate quickly. There arc plenty of suspicious cases of monopoly to inves- ' tigate on the West Coast alone. The Pores try Department promised solemn- ' ly that it would put an end to the i tying up of areas, but in >outh Westland there is a case where timber land is gridironed in a way that is calculated to lock large areas up from any other people till a certain big concern

is at liberty to take them up, upon cutting out its present large holdings. We all remember the Great Western Timber syndicate case. A very serious charge was made in regard to an official by a member of the deputation, awd it would be as well if the matter w< ro cleared up at once. Mr Massey pointed out the number of mills on the Coast had more than doubled recently, yet his Ministry seem to have ignored the fact till very recently so far as labour is concerned. For instance, the deputation’s request for bathing facilities is a belated one, and better housing is essential. It is no argument for Hon. Air Anderson to say that employers will discriminate in favour of single men should they be obliged to house the married employees and their dependants properly. It is a most illuminating commentary. The deputation’s request for a more reliable principle to be adopted in regard to compensation for death or accidents will, we hope, bear fruit at once, likewise that fur a more adequate allowance for medical treatment for the injured and sick workers. The Hon. Mr Anderson coolly informed the deputation that he recognised the wisdom of transfers of inspectors at regular intervals, but it would be interesting to know what has convinced him. If he has long recognised this, it is to be hoped that in future his principles will influence him to act more readily. Mr Massey thinks sawmilling a suitable occupation for 16-ycar boys, ns an alternative. of course, to paying the father of the boys more wages, because workers cannot be expected, he thinks, to be able to keep their boys idle at the age of sixteen. Perhaps he hopes to provide them with a means of education like : lie continuation schools in the towns, where there are no sawmills. There is no occupation more, and few so very, arduous as sawmilling work, and. wTiile a good degree of skill is necessary that experience alone? can confer, it is undoubted that the risks should be minimised and the conditions be made of the best description. There is a lot of danger in the bush, and men working around saws are required to be very vigilant. There is do doubt, too, that a largo endowment of physical strength is required, showing the arduous nature of the occupation. Every mill worker earns his money fully, no matter if the wages of some are much above the minimum. The Government must see that industries like coal and quartz mining and sawmilling impose a big strain on men, and the need of a living should not be allowed to expose any workers to hardship and neglect. There is the convention that manual workers shall never be paid above a fodder basis, but that rotten -convention has got to go, and so also the convention that capital has a right any longer to exploit labour in the quest for profits. All economic thinkers are perceiving the need to-day to associate labour with the employer in the control and direction or industry. If this country lag behind, it is at least the Government’s duty to act on the advice and representations of labour organisations where the welfare of workers is concerned. We trust, therefore, that the Government will give early effect to the deputation’s requests.