EMPLOYEES' FEDERATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14699, 6 December 1909, Page 2 (Supplement)

EMPLOYEES' FEDERATION

SEVENTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON, November 17. The seventh animal conference of llio New Zealand Employers' Federation opened to-day. The president (Mr W. Foster) was in the chair. In the annual report regretful reference was made to the death of Mr S. Brown, and congratulations were extended to his successor, Mr W. Scott. "It is pleasing to be able to report,'' continued • the executive's statement, " that the signs of industrial unrest which were so apparent when last year's leport was written have almost entirely passed away. A number oi reasons have been advanced for the change of attitude on the part of workers' unions and labour leaders, and, ill the opinion of the executive, the principal cause of the present period of comparative industrial peace was the recent depression iii trade, and (.lie consequent surplus labour supply. It is a much more difficult task to get workers to cease work when there are plenty of others to take thoir places than when they know that tho demand exceeds the supply. It has been advanced that the settinj; up ol conciliation councils has had ,i considerable effect upon tho .'ituation, but while the executive admits that a large number of so-called - disputes has been settled by means of the conciliation councils, it cannot be said they have been an important factor in promoting indnstrial peace. As a matter of fact, tho number of disputes being filed is as "rent as ever, a* during the period between February 1 and July 31 of this year no fewer th.m 70 of tiicso ' disputes' have been dealt with by means of the conciliation councils and the Arbitration Court, or settled by industrial agreements. The depression in the trade fins again had some effect, and has been an important factor in bringing about settlements, as union representatives have recognised the futility under existing circumstances of pressing for their ofttimes exorbitant demands. In this connection tho eecretary felt compelled, in the interests of employers generally, to request the Arbitration Court to express an opinion on the attitude adopted by unions in continually coming forward with claims for higher wages, shorter hours, etc., and the following statement by the court in connection with the Gisborne printers' award has, in the opinion of your executive, had a salutary effect:--

: Mneh expense and di^nppointinent will ho avoided if the executives o( unions will ponder well what we have said, and if, before originating a dispute, they will ascertain that- there is some definite and reasonable ground for asking For an alteration in the terms of an existing award, and will recognise that, without some such ground, it is useless to ask for an altctv lion. It is idle to ask, as many unions do, for an increase in the wages fixed by an existing award, and to have nothing better to offer in support of the application than the evidence of a. number of workers who aro prepared to say that, in their opinion, the wages asked for are reasonable. To rely on evidence of that kind is to confess that the union has been unable to find

anything in the shape of hct or argument to support its case.' "

After opposing the proposal to allow enforcement cases to be taken by magistrates, flic federation agreed to a trial of the scheme, witli the fol-

lowing safeguards:—(l) To allow an appeal from a magistrate to the Court o! Arbitration, and (2) to give power to inspectors of awards to bring any action for enforcement of awards in the Court of Arbitration instead of in the Magistrate's Court. " The experiment of the enforcement cases being token by the magistrates/' comments, the executive, "has been sutlieientiy long in operation to show that the feme expressed as to varying decisions and different penalties were well founded. It is only taiv to note, however, that the ridiculously high fines imposed by some magistrates are not now being inflicted." It was submitted thai " a serious omission from the act is that- owing to a misunderstanding provision is not made for laymen to appear as advocates in breach of award esses before magistrates." The Minister had promised an amendment to remove this disability. After commenting on the conciliation 'section of the amended act., the report remarked: " While there is cause for

congratulation at the measure of success attained in this conjunction, it is very

questionable if employers interested in in-

dustrinl disputes in many cases realise tlio extra responsibility thrown upon them _to safeguard not only their own interests, but the interests' of all

other employers by refusing to give way

on matters of principle or agree to provisions in awards which have not so far been inserted by the Arbitration Court. The Advisory Board has been seriously concerned at the evident weakness of assessors in some respects, and has been ompelled to issue a circular drawing attention to the necessity for assessors, while doing all that, is reasonable to feciire settlement by conciliation, ensuring that such settlements are not obtained at too great a cost." The executive held that the appointment of assessors in disputes and the payment of lees by the Government, the amount, earned being governed by the number of sittings held, are also sources of danger. "The warnings issued by the executive in past years regarding the Socialistic tendencies of the Trades and Labour Councils of ■ the Dominion have proved well founded." declared the report, "in greater degree than ever before. The Labour leaders are now pressing their claims for the nationalisation of all means of production, distribution, and wealth. The defection of Mr A. \V. Hogg. M.P., from the ranks of the Liberal party, and his evident intention to place himself, if possible, at the bead of a distinct Labour party, brings nearer the three-party oystem in the politics of New Zealand foreshadowed, in last year's report. While

it may be a matte!' for congratulation that the Liehral parly should be disassociated fiom the extreme Labour party, it rests with the employers of the Dominion to see tn it that the third party does not sent re thai dominance which will enable it to dictate terms which will secure the introduction of further Socialistic legislation in New Zettland. There is no queslinu but that the industries of the Dominion have as many burdensome restrictions impost d upon them as they can possibly bear." The following nliirers were elected:— President, Mr W. G. Foster: vice-presi-dent, Hon. C. M. Luke. M.L.C.; treas.irer. Mr R. A. Scott; trustee. Mr W. 11. Bennett: Pai-liamentarv Commit-tee-Messrs J. Allen. M.P., CM. lianks. J. Bevcridge, 11. Initios, S. S. Kirkcaldy', G. 11. Chapma.ii. N. F. Motley, If, Seaton, L. S. Humphries. QUESTION OK APPRENTICES. The whole subject was discussed at length. There was a general opinion in favour of technical education of apptentices. • The conference passed the following motions-.— That this federation is opposed to anv further compulsory increase of apprentices' wages. That the technical education of apprentices should be accomplished after wovkin" hours. That in Ihe opinion of this federation employers should recognise the great value of technical education, and suggests to affiliated associations the adivisability of doing what they win to foster and assist the schools in their centres. That it bo a recommendation to employers in all centres where technical schools are established that they secure adequate representation on the technical school boards of control of the various classes they are interested in, and endeavour to secure the issue of monthly reports to employers of the progress antl attendance of their apprentices. That this conference approves of a central hoard of control, which shall confer with the technical school authorities to arrange a syllabus of instruction for each group of related trades; to promote and hold regular and uniform examinations of apprentices in all centres where technical schools are established.