EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12409, 23 October 1903, Page 5

EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION.

VIEWS ON LABOUR BILLS. . [l)T telegraph;—Fecial correspondent.] Wellington, Thursday. The conference of the Employers' Federation of New Zealand concluded its labours last night, and the delegates left for their respective homes to-day. Before they left, however, they interviewed the Labour Bills Committee of the Legislative Council, in order to give evidence on and represent their views regarding the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill. The federation not having had the opportunity to give this evidence before the Labour Bills Committee of the House, used the opportunity to appear before the Council's Committee. There was a large attendance of the committee, and the Bill was examined exhaustively and in detail. Mr. Tregear (secretary of the Labour Department) was present. Evidence was given by Mr. Garrow (secretary of the Otago Employers' Association), Mr. Henry Field (on behalf of the federation), and Mi. Booth (president of the federation). The deputation first of all took objection to some words in clause 4 of the Bill, which makes it a breach of award if " any industrial union or association, or any combination of either employers or workers, has taken proceedings intended or likely to defeat any of the provisions of the award." The deputation asked that the very comprehensive words " intended or likely to defeat" be deleted, and the word " defeating" be substituted. Clause 5: "Every employer who dismisses from his employment any employee by reason merely of the fact that the employee is a member of an industrial union, or is entitled to the benefit of an award, order, or agreement, shall be deemed to have committed a breach," etc. The deputation asked that the first part down to " industrial union" be struck out, because the law already provides against the dismissing of a man because he is a unionist. The striking out of the second portion was also urged, on the ground that it is exceedingly dangerous, and will probably prevent an employer managing his business on the best lines, or reorganising it as the i result of an award.

Sub-clause 3 of clause 6 was also objected to on the ground of the large powers it gives to inspectors of awards in the matter of examination of employers' books. The general objection was founded on the fear that the Bill had been brought in to prevent a recurrence of the powers exercised by employers in the Auckland furniture case. It was pointed out- that the President of the Court, in giving his decision in' that case, completely exonerated the employers of any fault or misdeed in connection with a breach either of the letter or the spirit of the award, or of the policy of the Act. Mr. Booth, in his evidence, emphasised the serious apprehension of employers in respect of labour legislation generally. ■ Mr. Field submitted to the Council a resolution passed by the conference, urging that all fines inflicted by the Arbitration Court should be paid into "the Consolidated Fund of the colony, and not be given to unions, or to anyone being a party to the dispute or breach, the objection to this practice being that as the country bears the cost of the administration of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, the State should receive the fines, as in other Courts where the fines become the colony's property. The giving of fines to unions was further objected to on the' grounds that it was a* positive inducement and premium to get alleged breaches of awards up, it- being very easy to secure a verdict because of the possibility of technical breaches that really inflicted no injury either on the individual worker or on the union. It was urged that the Bill be amended to provide as above. The deputation later on interviewed the Premier, and requested that the Government should take up the Hon. J. M. Twomey's Imprisonment for Debt Limitation Bill, which had passed the Legislative Council as a private member's measure. The Premier, in reply, said it was very likely that legislation had gone too much in one direction. It was a case for inquiry, and he would communicate with the Stipendiary Magistrates of the colony, and get their views. He was not sure whether it was possible at this late stage of the session to get a measure which might be very debatable brought in, but he would make inquiry and consult with the Minister for Justice. [by telegraph.— association.] Wellington, Thursday. At the conference of the New Zealand Employers' Federation, . a resolution was passed expressing alarm at continual amendment of the labour laws, especially as these amendments take the form of a direct interference with employer's' rights, and resolving to use every means to defeat further harassing legislation. It was decided to communicate with the executive of the Farmer's' Union in regard to this matter, with a view to obtaining co-operation in united action. The conference decided that it was desirable to appoint an organising secretary for the federation. Mr. G. T. Booth, of Christchurch, was re-elected president.