EMPLOYERS’ CONFERENCE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 235, 21 September 1911, Page 6

EMPLOYERS’ CONFERENCE.

Wellington, Sept. -21. j At the New Zealand Employers’] Federation yesterday, | The chairman, in m<>\ ing the adop- , tioll of the report, referred io the | world-wide character of the labour | troubles, so that they in New Zea | land vveri* not singular in that re | spent. He thought the New Zealand , .Arbitration Act was certainly better] than strikes. Every year the diflicitl- i lievi of the employers were increasing. and every year, too, their profits] were decreasing. It was evident ] that some great industrial change ] was imminent througnoiit the (vhole | world, but so far its New Zealand was j comerned. while industrial and con- i (illation and arbitration legislation was in operation strikes should be | made illegal and unions should not I be allowed to canctd their registra | t i-,ti for tiie purpose of striking. The report was adopted. It was pointed out by delegates that employers had to insure apprentices, not only against accidents] while at work, but also against any mishap that might incapacitate them while at play, and m such circumstances pay them full wages. The ease of a lad who was playing football was mentioned, where, because be was an apprent ice, his master had to pay him full wages while he was incapacitated. Had the lad been killed when not at work liis employer would have been fret* of liability for compensation of any sort. The meeting resolved, "That the advisory board of the federation be asked to confer with the executive of the I'nclerwriters’ Association in Wellington, or take such other means as thev deem necessary, with a view to arranging for a suitable insurance polity- covering apprentices for the I whole of the 21 hours, such policy to i cover employers against all risks .under the Workers’ Compensation i for Accidents Act, common law in- : dentures and court’s apprentice : clause.” i It was also decided "That the ad- : vi«ory board be requested to conrider the advisableness of forming an association for the purpose of taking employers risks under the Workers’ Compensation Act, Employer;*' Liability Act or other laws !or awards under which employers ! are liable to pay wages or compensation to employees. ; It was decided that statutory holil days should be uniform throughout : the Dominion; that only statutory ' : holidays be inserted in awards or 'agreements; that local holidays , should be left to the discretion of ’ each town ; that the Public Holidays Act be amended by providing for the ! substitution of special holidays declared by the local body in lieu of ar award holiday occurring in the same ' week ; that the federation strongly ! oppose any alteration of the present legislation whereby each district ha; a right to fix the day that shall bv ! observed by such district for it; statutory half-holiday. It was resolved to meet represent atives of the Wellington and Petom Technical School Board to-morrow ■I at 7.3" !>->>•■ t” discuss the questio: ’’of recognition of the time spent by 1 students in attending teelum-al ’ schools.