TRADE PRACTICES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24833, 5 February 1942, Page 6

TRADE PRACTICES

POST-WAR RESTORATION OBLIGATION ON EMPLOYERS SAFEGUARD FOR N LABOUR (Rec. 7 p.m.) RUGBY, Feb. 3. Moving the second reading in the House of Commons of the Restoration of Pre-war Trade Practices Bill, the. Minister of labour, Mr E. Bevin, 'explained that its purpose was in accordance with the Government's pledges to restore after the war trade practices departed from during the war. The basis upon which the problem of dilution of labour had been approached during this war was far different from that in the last war. It was approached by both sides with a determination to , contribute whole-heartedly to the war effort and to co-operate with the State in whatever steps might be necessary to secure the protection of the country and ultimately victory -for the Allies* Mr Bevin said* that machinery had been established which would enable industry to be transferred- from a wartime to a peace-time basis with /great facility and speed. Perhaps the most remarkable fact was that this had been done with scarcely a single dispute on the question of dilution in any works in the country. Members would appreciate the difficult and complicated problems arising in workshops and the inherent conservatism of our people on both sides, especially in view of the fact that nearly every trade practice in this country which had been devised to protect workmen had been the result of years of effort and might be described as a real property right as far as the working classes were concerned.,, ' !.■ ', ,:-,

.Small Number of Disputes Having regard to the size of the ! labour force in this country, a change in its distribution and composition was necessary for rapid adjustment in the character and methods of production and in many cases a complete change in the piecework rates due to those changes, Mr Bevin continued. It was remarkable that the amount of time lost through disputes represented only one-fifteenth of a day a year for each worker employed since the war broke out. Changes of a voluntary character that had been made r in industry were fortified by the Government's pledge. There had been more disputes in this; country during his memory arising from the actions of employers who did not play the game than from any other cause, and it was necessary to take steps to see that none took advantage after the war of those who had entered into honourable and voluntary bargains. ' -. .'.,. . xjr; Another reason for carrying out the : pledge was that, although the transit tion from war Vito peace would be yelrydifficult, every step had to be taken to minimise the chances of a disputewhen that moment arrived. Therßill was not concerned with wages,: but with rules and practices or customs with respect to the classes to bej or' not to be, employed, and the conditions of the hours of working. />•"'/;. Maintenance for 18 Months The proposal did not attempt to ' establish a statutory code of trade practices; Mr Bevin' said. It placed, the "obligation: on •employers:t-to restore the trade practices departed, from during the war and maintain the restored practices for 18 months. This applied equally to undertakings begun during ths. "•warj. ■ ■'-■ -There'- :,wa*'•■'s■. .further 'safeguard-; that; only the cus-to^-iitKwasbefore,tfie^warto hi?intain the pi*oice in question enter into anAgreement withlthe'emiplbyers. who hadnot discharged his obligation might be reported, to the Ministfesbf..Labour ..by. an .employers' organisationior.trad*-iinibpj Mi" Bevin cbhwuded. •If thf caßeijbuld not be disposed -.of "by. agrfceinftrit it joust be de#W by arbitration. If at t<*" arbitration an award or l decision Was not carifiied: but the employer; :w*s liable to penalties. . '■'','