EMPLOYERS’ PRESIDENT

Grey River Argus, 18 August 1937, Page 7

EMPLOYERS’ PRESIDENT

ON “PROSPERITY” (Per Press Association], AUCKLAND, August 17. A warning that economic difficulties lie ahead of New Zealand, was given by the president of the Auckland Provincial Employers’ Association (Mr. J. S. Dawes) at the anno' 1 ' meeting to-day. He said that while it was gratifying to note the increase in prosperity recorded in 1935-36 still continued, the main reason for New Zealand’s prosperity was the hm prices ruling for primary products, which prices it was impossible to control. ‘The effects of industrial legislation has been to penalise the employment of labour, the penalty varying in direct proportion to the amount of labour employed” He added' that, the only private employer practically sheltered, apart from the Government, was the small employed or contractor, known as the “freelance,” who employed little or no permanent labour. He said also that he was fearful of the potential scope of the Industrial Efficiency Act, as it tended to prevent that confidence which was essential to the free development of industry.