EMPLOYEES MEET.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17881, 29 August 1918, Page 5

EMPLOYEES MEET.

CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting of tho Canterbury Employers’ Association was held at the Cadena Tea Rooms last evening, being preceded, in accordance with the usual custom, by tea. The president (Mr A. F. Drayton) occupied tho chair, and there was an attendance of about eighty. PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. In moving the adoption of the report BJid balance-sheet, the president asked members to show a keener interest in the association by endeavouring to add to its membership each year. During the voar the committee had invested £3OO in war bonds. SECOND DIVISION MEN. He had referred last year to the difficulties employers would have in carrying on business when tho Sooond Division men were being called up, and the serious effect it would have on the industrial, farming and commercial operations. Whilst this was undoubtedly true, it was remarkable under these abnormal conditions that business, in tho main, had been successfully prosecuted. However, the time had arrived, when extreme caution must be exercised by the authorities to avoid undue hardship and financial stringency through the undermining of the main channels of industrial activity. It was gratifying to know that the Government was making full provision for the maintenance of those who were left behind, and ho would put in a plea on behalf of the wives and children belonging to those of his hearers’ employees who had been called up. that their needs would have his hearers 1 personal attention. A kindly and sympathetic interest in tlicir welfare would greatly comfort them in their loneliness. DEMOBILISATION AND EMPLOYMENT.

The question of demobilisation was a matter requiring the immediate attention not only of the military authorities, but of employers. The Government had recently appointed a commission ol military officials to undertake the woik of demobilising the Army, and he believed there was a very comprehensive scheme, from the military point of view, in course of compilation, but this merely covered the first step. The more important aspect was the absorption of these men by the various commercial, industrial and farming operations. This aspect was really beyond tho military and came under tne more applicable designation of repatriation. This required tho serious attention of every employer. The men had responded to the call for service in order that his hearers might enjoy the freedom and liberty given at great cost by their forefathers, and the least they could do was to use their best endeavours in an effort to restore these men to their old positions (if fit), or find employment for the unfit. If the Government would set up a special committee, comprising representatives from the Trades and Labour Council, Chamber of Commerce, Returned Soldiers’ Association, Industrial Association and this association, in each main centre, and arrange a periodical Dominion conference of those representatives at Wellington, it would go a long wav to allay any doubt that might exist In tho minds of the boys_at the front, and act as an incentive to them to return to their old places of abode. WAR DEVELOPMENTS.

The war has been instrumental in bringing about a number of striking developments in tho industrial world. These had followed each other in quick succession. In addition to the trouble experienced in securing raw material and other goods, there was the evergreen pioblem of labour. Not only had lahour been scarce in every trade or calling, but wages bad, in many cases, been increased very considerably, both to the skilled and unskilled workers. With > the increasing cost of production tliero was the consequent increase in the cost of living. Whilst undor these abnormal conditions wages were continuously increasing, the time was arriving when some other solution,. must be found to adjust these economic extreme conditions which had so considerably reduced the value of the sovereign, ihe labour problem in New Zealand was, fortunately, not nearly so acute as it was in any other country in the world. There was no reason why tho indtistnal conditions in New Zealand should not become such as to make the place an ideal one for the worker. A great deal might be done by the workers themselves in avoiding trouble. They should endeavour, at all costs, to eliminate from their ranks tue lawless element, which was apt to break out on different occasions, and, unless checked would cause incalculable mischief not only to the workers themselves, but to the general community. RELATIONS WITH EMPLOYEES. He would like to emphasise that tho industrial problem in this country demanded a strong plea for a better understanding between employers and employees. If the men would work hand in hand with tho manufacturer and producer the grave difficulties which had occurred in the past would disappear, and those in possession of capital would be encouraged to embark upon new enterprises. Labour should recognise that it could not find a market for itself. In other words, men could not procure the means to earn a living unless the manufacturers were prepared to spend large sums of money in putting down plants. Of course, the employer must do his part to ensure that the best relationship should exist between himself and his employee. Mention might bo made of the Whitley Commission report, which had attracted considerable attention in New Zealand. It was framed by a special committee at Home, and at tie outset pointed out that the circumstances of tho present time were admitted on all sides to offer a great opportunity for securing a permanent improvement in the relations between employers and employed. It urged among other things, the enlistment of the active and continuous co-operation of the latter in the 'promotion of industry. It regarded as necessary the establishment for each industry of an organisation, representative of employers and workers, to have as its object tho regular consideration of matters affecting the progress and well-being of the trade from the point of view of all those engaged in it, so far as this was consistent with the general interest of the community. The formation of joint standing industrial councils in the various industries was therefore recommended. The framers of the report had purposely avoided making suggestions with regard to such matters as profit-sharing, co-partnership, or particular systems of wages, owing to the varying conditions in different trades. They were convinced, moreover, “that a. permanent improvement in the relations between employers and employees must be founded upon something other than a cash basis.*' It might bo for the employers of New Zealand to consider whether it was worth while for them to look into this report thoughtfully and see how far any of the proposals submitted would be applicable to this country. OTIRA TUNNEL. All would be gratified that the Otira tunnel had at last been pierced, but there was still a considerable amount of work to be done before it was available for traffic. If the citizens of Christchurch, through the medium of the Progress League, kept in constant touch with tho Minister of Public "Works, there was a likelihood of it being completed earlier than if they remained passive. i _ TAXATION. He was still of the opinion that tho nnly equitable method of taxation was the. taxing of the individual and undivided profit of companies. From inquiries he had made lately he learned that the Commissioner of Taxes was Using his discretionary power in a most equitable and tactful manner. However, there was still the unfair taxation of large companies, oomposed of hun-

dreds of individuals, which were worthy of some other form of taxation, but even this could be greatly assisted in the future by the judicious introduction of the penal clause empowering tho Treasury to demand, where necessary, compulsory investment in war loans. The authorities must hot ovorlook that the continual drain on man-power, if maintained, would restrict business and financial stringency would ensue which would make the work of the Tax Department exceedingly complex and place an excessive tax on the restricted operations. It seemed to him that the Society of Accountants in New Zealand, with their knowledge of finance and profits of trading, could be of great assistance to the Department and to the Legislature in arriving at an equitable basis of taxation, and the association Bhould urge upon the Government tho advisability of co-operating with the societv in amending the present unsatisfactory method of assessment. DOMINION FINANCES.

One vital question facing the commercial community was the fact that tho Government was calling for vast sums of money to meet the heavy military demands, and was thus competing in the open market for financial support. This being an absolute necessity, it was the duty of every business man to order his affairs so as to interfere as little as possible with tho raising of the largo loans which the Government required. To do this, his assets must bo kept as liquid as possible, his business conducted economically ana efficiently, and, above all, lie must avoid tying up more capital than tho reasonable requirements of bis business demanded. Mr W. Goss seconded tho motion, and in doing so urged that more active support should be given to the association by employers. In regard to tire problem of improving relations between employers and employed, tho only possible basis to. work upon was that each side should recogniso that tho other had certain rights. The motion was carried unanimously. ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

, Officers for tho, ensuing year were elected as follow: —President, Mr TV. Goss; auditors, Messrs W. Jameson and Sons; executive committeo, Messrs 11. D. Aclnnd, A. W. Beavcn, R. Bell, R. 0. Bishop, J. A. Black, G. T. Booth, E. C. Brown, J. D. Colville, A. F. Drayton, J. A. Frostick, W. Goss, P. L. Hallenstein, C. S. Harper, J. R. Hayward, W. Hayward. C. 11. Hewlett, F. W. Hobbs, A. W. Jamieson, A. Kaye, S. H. Maddren, AY Morley, A. Smith, F. H. Steel, S. K. Sleigh and I. Woolf. Ex-officio members df executive committee, Messrs G. A. Blackmore. C. E. Boon, A. S. Duncan, A. C. Kellaway, D. Lee, D. Main, 0. A. Mvhro, W. Nichnlls, H. J. Otley, H. Wood and J. M, Mitchell.

Votes of thanks to the outgoing executive, proposed by Mr H. J. Ranger, and to the outgoing president, proposed by Mr R. 0. Bishop, were carried unanimously, after which the meeting terminated.