PEACE IN INDUSTRY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20644, 16 February 1929, Page 13

PEACE IN INDUSTRY

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE. REJECTED BY EMPLOYERS. . , (British Official Wireless.) (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) RUGBY,' February 14. (Received Feb. 16, at 6.6 p.m.) Two great representative organ!sations of British employers—the Federation of British Industries and the National. Federation of Employers on Industrial Relations—decided yesterday to reject the report of the MohdTurner Committee, and conveyed their decision in a joint letter to the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, The committee, which was set up 16 months ago, comprises proininent representative employers and representatives of the Trades Union Congress, and is presided over by Lord Melchett, who was formerly Sir Alfred Mond. A re. ..- port was recently adopted, favouring, . inter alia, the creation of a national industrial council, which would hold ■ regular meetings for general consults-, tions on the widest questions concerning industry and industrial progress, and would have in connection with it joint conciliation boards for the prevention of industrial disputes. By an overwhelming majority, the Trades Union Congress in September accepted the proposals, and the employers have now made their reply. The report, as it stands, is rejected, not on account of any specified objection to the proposed council, but because the tech- ■ nical difficulties arising out of the constitution'of each body are considered to preclude them from taking such a course. Importance is, however, attached '- r to the invitation extended by the employers’ organisations to the General Council of the Trades Union Congress to attend a conference to examine the question of usefully consulting together upon matters of common interest to British ' industry. The Times says: “The positive effect of the reply i B to open the door lor : ' the first time to discussions of any Idnd between the leading national organisations of employers and the national organisation of trade unions. This, therefore, represents an important new ’ departure.” ' THE SYDNEY CONFERENCE. ri ATTITUDE OF LABOUR. MELBOURNE, February 15. (Received Feb. 15, at 11 p.m.) , When the peace in industry conference assembles at Sydney it is likely ' that the majority or the Labour delegates who attended the preliminary gatherings at Melbourne will be absent The Melbourne Trades Hall Council by 61 votes to 59 decided to withdraw its delegates from the forthcoming confer/ence.