SOCIALISM AND LABOUR LAWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13195, 5 June 1906, Page 5

SOCIALISM AND LABOUR LAWS.

'.MANIFESTO BY THE EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION. PREFERENCE TO UNIONISTS. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Ditnkdix, Monday. Is view of the aggressiveness of the Labour party and the great publicity given to many far-reaching and drastic resolutions recently passed by the Trades and Labour Conference, the advisory board of the New Zealand Employers' Federation, with the consent and approval ot the various affiliated associations, has deemed it advisable to make public the opinions held by the emplovers generally with regard to the principal questions dealt with, particularly those relating to Socialism and the labour laws id the colony. The manifesto stales that the Federation lias .been accused of want of sympathy with labour, of desire to repeal many I about Acts, and ot antagonism to the present Government. The Federation as a body has no politics. It treats all questions from a purely commercial and industrial standpoint. It has at times tided the present Government in improving the labour laws and other measures that, in its opinion have made for the common good, and it has spoken with no uncertain sound when . legislation likely to be detrimental to the best interests of the colony has been proposed. This course it purposes to pursue more strenuously in the future. EXTREME SOCIALISM. The Federation is hoi opposed on principle to trades unionism, or to labour legislation. It is, however, opposed to the extreme socialism of the labour leaders, which it believes would land the colony in further expensive and futile experiments. The Federation has every sympathy With the just demands of labour, and has never opposed any measure that in its opinion tended to permanently improve the condition of the working classes. The desire of the Federation has always been to increase employment, and provide work for all at a fair wage, .with reasonable hours, and thus safeguard and promote the extension of industries. That

the labour unions have not recognised the spirit shown by the employers, .and their wish to deal justly with the workers, is not the fault, of the. employers, but is to be attributed to the extreme socialism of the labour leaders, whose one cry is for higher wages and shorter hours, without apparently any consideration of the effect of such demands upon the cost of production, the cost -of living, or the increase of foreign competition. Employers, while not averse to the municipal control of some Departments in the public service, be- ' lieve 'n individual initiative and efficiency are beet capable of developing theColony's industries and resources. ARBITRATION COURT. ♦The Arbitration Court has given to the workers all that hi its opinion the industries could afford, and evidently the time has now arrived when the imposition of additional burdens would prove destructive to a number of industries. This view has been publicly affirmed by the Premier on more than one occasion. The Federation has every confidence in, the Court as constituted, and looks upon the president as one whose knowledge, uprightness, impartiality, and fearlesness, are -beyond question." The Industrial, Conciliation and Arbitration Act has been the means of creating organisations of*' both 'employers and workers' to an extent hitherto unknown in the annals of the colony, and'as the two are in many respects, owing principally to the extreme socialism- of the Labour leaders, diametrically ..opposed to one another, it is necessary ill the interests of the colony to have some

tribunal or linal Court of Appeal where differences can be adjusted. The Federation, though not responsible for the present Act, believes that it is essential, if it be maintained, that it should be "so amended that the decisions of the Court shall be final, and that it shall hare power to inflict the severest penalties on any individual or body that ignores its awards. The Federation recommends that section 101, sub-section (c) of the Act, should be amended by striking out the last sentence of the sub-section, which provides 5 " That in no "case shall costs be given against an inspector." This will came the inspectors to thoroughly satisfy themselves that the cases'really exist before bringing them into Court. DEMANDS OF UNIONISTS. The demand now mad« for unconditional preference to unionists is such a menace to the well-being of the colony that the employers can never submit to it, and are satisfied that I hey "ill be supported by the lave mass of the worker* outside the pale Of unionism. It would mean an autocracy of labour that would make the life of the employer or non-unionist workman simply unbearable. Unconditional preference is, in the opinion of the Federation, a grave danger that should not be tolerated, and it wills upon all employers, farmers, unorganised labour, reasonable unionists, and tjie general public to oppose the granting of it by even means in their power. The Federation is of opinion that as .the Arbitration Court is. the maker of awards, it is the proper tribunal to enforce them. If the continued and persistent demands of the trades councils foi full wages during incapacity are given cllVet to, the insurance companies will be compelled to increase the present, rates. Employers do not object to pay compensation foi genuine accidents arising out of, and in course of, employment, but consider that it the workers are to be covered against disease, as well as accident, during total incapacity, the extra burden should Ik- borne by the workers and the State. In conclusion, the manifesto regretfully recognises the hopelessness of any return to conciliation. The union leaders refuse to recognise that their continuous demands can mi longer be conceded without seriously affecting, it not entirely extinguishing industries, many of which are now carrying all they can bear. They also ignore" the effects of foreign competition, to which they have been, and still ate. lending such strong support, and in doing so are exhibiting disloyally to the colony which gives their shelter.