EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12801, 23 October 1903, Page 3

EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION.

VIEWS ON LABOUR BILLS.

' (From Our. Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, October 22. The confercnco of the Employers' Federation of: Now Zealand concluded it>3 labours last night', and tlio delegates left for their respective homes to-day. Before they left, however, they interviewed tho Labour Bills Committoo of the Legislative Council in order to givo evidence on, and represent their views on, the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill. The federation, not having had tho opportunity to give, thfe evidence before tho Labour Bills Committee of the House, u?ed tho opportunity to appear before the Council's committee, 'fhero was a largo 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 Barrow (secretory of the Otago Employers' Association), Mr Henry Field (on behalf of the federation), and'Mr Booth (president of the federation). Tho deputation* first of all took objection to tome words in clause 4 of tlio trill which makes it a- breach of award it " any industrial union or association, or any combination of cither employers or workors, has ta&on proceedings intended or likely to defeat any of, tlio provisions of tho award." Tho deputation afk'ed 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 lus employment any employee by reason merely of the fact that the employee is a mcmljer of an industrial union or is entitled to the benefit of an award, order, or agreement shill bo deemed to have committed a broach," etc. Tho deputation asked that tho first part down to "industrial union" bo struck out, becauso tho law already provides against the dismissing of a man because ho is a. unionist. The striking out of the second portion was also urged on tho ground that it is exceedingly dangerous, and will probably .prevent an employer managing his business on tho best lines or reorganising it as tho result of an award. Sirb-clnu&o 3 of clauso 6 was also objected to on the ground of tho largo powers it gives to inspectors of awards in the matter of examination of employers' books. Tlio general'objection was founded on tlio 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 tho court in giving dccfision in that case completely exonerated the employers of any fault or misdeed in connection with a breach either of the lotter or . the spirit of the award or of the policy of-the act. Mr Booth in his evidence emphasised the eerious apprehensions of employers in respect of labour logislation generally. Mr Field submitted to the Council a resolution passed by tlio conference urging; that all fines initiated by the Arbitration Court bo paid into tho Consolidated Fund of tho colony, and not be given to nnjons or to anyono being a party to the dispute or breach, the objection to this practice being that as tho country bears tho cost of tho administration of tho Conciliation and Arbitration Act tho State should rceeivo fines, as in other courts, where the fines become tho colony's, property. The giving of fines to unions was further objected to on tho ground that it was a positive inducement and premium to get alleged breaches of award up, it being very easy to eccure a vcrdiet because of tho possibility cf technical breaches that really inflicted no injury either cm the individual worker or on the union. It was UTged that the bill bo amended to provide at? above. Tho deputation later on interviewed the Premier, and requested that the Government should take tip the Hon. J. M._ Tivomcy's Imprisonment for Debt Limitation Bill, which has pawed tho Legislative Council'as a private member's measure. Tho Premier, in reply, said it was very likely that legislation had gone too miieli in one direction. It was a case for inquiry, and lie would communicate with tho stipendiary magistrates of tho colony to got their viows. Ho was not euro whether it was possible at this late stage of the session to get a niesciiro which might bo tcny debatable brought in. but he would make inquiry and consult with the Minister of Justico.