EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15578, 7 October 1912, Page 2 (Supplement)

EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON, September 25. The annual mooting of tuo New Zcaland Em plovers' Federation opened here to-day, .\ir \V. Hopkirk (president) occupying the chair.

ANNUAL BEPOBT. The tenth annual repurt was presented ami adopted. Jt described the year f.s "one of great anxiety to employers of labour and all who have any interest whatever in the welfare of tho dominion. The prevailing industrial unrest has entailed ceaseless watching on the part of those controlling the aflaiis of the country, and the various' movements in the labour world have received the earnest

'"Moderation of the Advisory Hoard in order to keep members of the federation in touch with whatever movements have been apparent."

The ldll session of Parliament was responsible for amendments to the industrial Conciliation and Arbitration, Workers' Compensation, Alining, and Seamen Acts. Several amendments which v.vre strongly opposed by the federation became law, and, while representations to tho effect that some, at least, of tho altered conditions would prove impracticable were ignored, subsequent experience had proved the correctness of the views then expressed. The conversion of industrial agreements into awards and the dominion award provisions had proved inoperative, and would require to l>c considerably altered before they could be put into effective operation.

" Tho amendments to the Workers' Compensation Act providing for an extension of the definition of ' worker,' the liability for nuxlical attendance to the extent of £1 in all cases of accident, tho liability of an employer, notwithstanding the serious and wilful misconduct of tho worker, and the inclusion of domestic servants under the Act have resulted in accident insurance premiums being increased by 12j per cent., a further tax upon employers of labour of at least £15,000 per annum."

'I'lio Mining Bill included a clause aimed at the contract system in mines, and its deletion was only secured after a long and strenuous tight. Indirectly this clause affected the (arming, flaxmilling, sawmilliug, and coal mining interests, The Shipping and Seamen Bill did not contain any provisions sariously detrimental to New Zealand ship-owners, but as it contained a clause affecting the rates of wages to bo paid on foreign-going ships while on the New Zealand co:;st it had to await the lloyal assent before becoming law. " The proposals contained in the Hudget dealing with amendments to the Arbitration Act were received with considerable concern by employers generally. The proposed alteration of the constitution- of the court was such that the federation could not do other than oppose it. Representations have been made to the Minister of Jjabouv in thi3 connection, and tho appearance of the Bill itself is being awaited before definite action ,is taken in connection therewith.

" The Minister has intimated his intention to amend the Shops and Offices Hill, aijd it has been decided to take advantage of the proposal to make representations to secure some very much needed alterations in the interests of employers and chopkei.'pers generally. It was hoped that the new Parliament would have recogniesd the necessity for a rest from the continuous changes in industrial legislation and the imposition of further burdens upon the trades and industries of the dominion, but the indications tlint it is proposed to introduce several measures beyond those before-mentioned seem to afford reason for the fear that the expressed hopes will not be realised.

" There is no doubt that this continual tinkering with our industrial legislation and the ever-increasing burdens being placed upon employers is having a detrimental effect upon the expansion of our industries and the investment of capital which is needed for their development, and it is strongly recommended that representations should bo made to the Govorimnoiil that assurance should be given that, for some time at any rate, only amendments necessary for tho better administration of the present labour laws of the dominion will be made.

" The wave of industrial unrest which Is passing over the world "at the present time affords scope for much consideration. While it hus to lie conceded that in the older countries there is room for considerable improvement in the conditions of labour, it would appear as if the remedying of these evils in New Zealand has brought us no nearer industrial peace. During the, year the Conciliation Commissioners have all been kept busy dealing with fio-callcd disputes, and there has been no appreciable diminution of the number of cases dealt with by the Arbitration Court. A review of the industrial situation in New Zealand shows that although practically all the disadvantages workers labour under in the Old World countries have been made, impofsiblo by the dominion's humane awl lxMicficcnt, if not in some measure grandmotherly, legislation, there has been coparntivcly more .real industrial unrest in this country during the past year than in other countries where the same amount of so-called 'advanced ' legislation has not Ikcii effected. Such a state of affairs makes the question 'Where are concessions to end V very apropos at the present juncture of affairs." In conclusion tlie report states that " the organised forces arrayed against no which aim at the complete annihilation of the employing class make it quite evident that more money and more men must bo provided if the employers' interests are. to be adequately protected. That being so, the call has come to effectively close tip onr ranks, and the Advisory Board looks with confidence for a response that will enable the federation to do even belter work in the future than it has been able to achieve in the past." The report shows that from 1894 to 1905 the Arbitration Act appears to have prevented recourse to the strike as a medium of settling disputes between employer and employed. ' Since 1905, however, there have been .several strikes; up to 1911, in fact, averaging neatly' 13 per

annum,

The following is a summary of strikes in New Zealand since the inception of the Arbitration Act. Number of strikes coming within t.hn scope of the Act 31 Number of strikes outside the • scope of the Act 35 Total number of strikes 66 Number of difmutcs included in the total which may be classed as trivial or unimportant ... 35 Number of cases in which the men were fully successful ... 21 Number of casts in which the employers were fully successful .., 17 Number of cases in which a compromise was effected 23 Average duration of all strikes (trivial cases not included) ... 12 days Total number of strikes (trivial o*ses not included) 2,595 Total number of men rendered idle by strikes (trivial eases not included) 4 p 723 Approximate loss in wages to workmen concerned (average £6 10s) £30.382 Approximate loss to employers... £40,634 Total amount of fines inflicted on strikers £1,917 Total amount collected to date (E0 per cent.) ... .. £1,523 Total number nf strikes from year to vear:—lß94 to 1905. nil: 1906. 1; 1907 (slaughtermen only), 12; 1908, 12; 1909, 4; 1910. 11;.1911, 15; 1912 (to 31st August). 11;— loial, 65 It is pointed out that of this total 12 strikes were of slaughtermen— practically one sympathetic dispute spread over tho whole of the dominion. Six were within the scope of the Act and six outFide it. From Ist September. 1911. to 31st August, 1912. the following strikes took place:— ('allin? out in favour of ships' officers, Wellington (five wtoks); labourers. Oneliunita (two days); labourers, Auckland (one week); tramways, Wellington (4{ davs); waterside workers, Auckland (half hour); meat workers. Wellington, 14 days; builders, Gisborno (18 days); threshing mill hands, Morvui (men did not return); slaughtermen Onmaru (six bwlii) ; coal mine.-'. Kaitangata (one week). There were also 11 minor strikes of verv little importance and causing very littfe loss of time or monetary losses during the period, and nearly all of them were outside the Bcope of the Act, or the circumstances were so trivial th»t ;'Hion was not warranted. WAIHI AND HEEFTON. In addition to the strikes mentioned in the above return New Zealand is involved in the most srrious cessation of work it bav experienced since the 1890 maritime

strike. "It is quite within tho mark," the report states, " to say that the strikes nt Wnihi and Rccfton hnvo cost tho companies affected and tliu workers out of employment not less than £200,000, and there is every indication that some considerable time will clapso before work is resumed in the. mines.

Mr Hopkirk, in his opening remarks, expressed regret at the industrial unrest apparent in the dominion at the present time, and said lie was anxious that employers should become thoroughly organised Ko as to be ablo to adequately meet the situation.

The Budget proposals regarding amendments to the Arbitration Act were considered, but decision on them was deferred subject to the receipt of tho report of a special committee which was set up in connection with the matter.