STATEMENT BY EMPLOYERS FEDERATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 14 February 1914, Page 5

STATEMENT BY EMPLOYERS FEDERATION

IS. INDUSTRIAL LEGISLATION A

FAILURE?

(1 3 bes3 Association. —Copy bight. »

SYDNEY, Feb. 13

A n eeting of the executive of iho I '.■ employers' Federation discussed Lbe in ' dustrial position, and decided that the time had come for united resistance to the continual uplifting of wages and shortening of hours. The Federation has issued an important- official declaration which, after reviewing the "lazy" and other strikes, and the flouting of awards, says the ' failure of the industrial legislation as a [ preventative of strikes has never been ■ more clearly demonstrated than a<t the present. Unions are endeavouring by means of sectional demands to secure wages and working conditions which, if granted to all grades of workers, would cripple industrial and commercial progress and greatly increase the cost of living. The principle, or want of prinon which industrial awards are based encourages unions to come _ forward individually and secure continual increases of wages and lessening -erf; hours. The Industrial Courts •and "Wages Boards apparently fail'to sider the effects of their awards on industrial conditions as a whole, and every concession secured by one union is used as a lever to secure by other groups, which probably otherwise would have no chance of substantiating their claims. An increase of pay iri one section of industry is not a serious -handicap upon industry, but- when it is multiplied many times it is obvious that we are travelling in a vicious circle. ' The Federation has reached the conclusion. the statement continues, that the time has arrived to show united resistance in the interests of the general public, who after all have to bear the burden.