CAPITAL AND LABOR.

Mataura Ensign, 16 March 1909, Page 3

CAPITAL AND LABOR.

A r LEA i<OK HAIUIOiVY. 1 I'tc UMXLU I'iiESS ASSOCIATION. ' \ViaLL\GTOX, March 1(5A deputation from the Furniture 1 Workers' Union hud rather an animated discussion to-day with tho Hon. A. X\". Hogg (.Minister J'or Labor). Mr YViltord, M.P., explained that a complaint was made by the deputation iliat a. non-unionist had been discharged irom the D.I.C. during slackness ol work and afterwards tile same man t was pni on again while unionists were t our of work and that the. Department , had declined to ask the Court for an mierpivtation of the award as to whether the man had been discharged. * Aiioiher complaint was that some country employer!, had Ik-cil paying wages ' ioifiiiglilly instead of weekly. The ' anion thought a conviction for a ' breach of the award should be obtained. ; Chief inspector Lomas, howovor, luid • stated tJI nt his instructions wero not to 1 .isk tor less than a £lO lino, and as that ivoidil be too severe he could do nothing ' in y.ind i-aiitioniiig the employers. ') he Minister, in reply, said that he i 1m not think there was much in the euiiiplaints. He did not want to see 1 ■wall manuiacturers anil others unduly iianr ered iu their efforts. In regard to die case of the non-unionist who was sent away for a few days owing to ■darkness of work and then ro-euiployed he fancied that, any humane employer having a man working for him would be doing a great wrong if ho did not lake him back when lie was able to do su. The deputation told the Minister that i) his ruling was right thero would soon bo no more unionists. The Minister said it was dangei'ous to I rush to extremes. He deprecated the attacks on tho factory inspectors who were doing their duty, and ho strongly urged the men to work in harmony ivith tho employers. The Department was doing its best to help the unions, iii'l he did not think they should seize every opportunity to drive employers ' before the Court. Capital unci labor should work side by side. Tho object of the Department was to protect. boLh sides. As the outcome of the interview the Minister promised to obtain tho opinioc of the Solicitor-General on the following fpiestions:—(li How long does a 11011- j unionist have to lie out of employment. before lie is deemed to bo dismissed? (-) Can his employer reinstato him instead of a unionist when there is a preference clause 'i