PARTNERSHIP OF CAPITAL AND LABOUR

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 278, 24 November 1939, Page 8

PARTNERSHIP OF CAPITAL AND LABOUR

‘IMPROVED RELATIONS Comment by Employers 1, President (By Telegraph—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Nov. 23. In his presidential address to th« 4 annual meeting of the New Zealand Employers’ Federation, Mr A. C? Mitchell referred to the full represents tion of workers on the war emergency committees and contrasted this with thi position In 1914. “I should like to think,” he added, “that this is not solely due to the fact that the Labour Party is at present the Government of Nev

Zealand. I believe it is true that then is much greater co-operation betweer the employers’ and workers’ organise tions than there has ever been before in New Zealand.”

Mr Mitchell considered this a good augury for the future, and trusted that the Employers’ Federation would continue to do everything possible t« promote still further mutual trust and confidence.

Mr Mitchell drew attention to thfl increasing acceptance in all industrial countries of the idea of the partnership of capital and labour and the rights oi workers in the negotiation of the terms and conditions of their employment. Discussing the economic situation oi New Zealand, Mr Mitchell said that tbs high rate of expenditure had gone beyond the limits of our productive capacity, creating the necessity for the greatest possible caution if economic disaster was to be avoided. II appeared inevitable, he added, that the country must under these conditions adopt again a policy of economy. He believed if impossible to maintain the present level of expenditure in New Zealand on the present measure of production.