EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION. ANNUAL MEETING. WELLINGTON, October 7.

Otago Witness, Issue 2849, 21 October 1908, Page 14

EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION. ANNUAL MEETING. WELLINGTON, October 7.

\ r" The sixth annual meeting of the New <> Zealand Employers' Federation opened p to-day. Mi" H. Inr.etes, president of the federation, occupied the chair. %-* The report opened with an expression of by the General Executive at P&eiog able to say that the combination %M3*d organisation, of employers represented zlky the federation was to-day the largest flxnd most powerful the Dominion- had *»ver eeen. On a low estimate it repre--Bented an individual membership of over SfiOOO firms and persons. In a criticism =«n lejnsJation tlie report stated that- the |«unendmeat of the Shops* and Offices Act 'Jhi providing for a poll of. the electors to pdetenname tlie day of the weekly nalff*K>]idiay was a particularly danigerous provision, and if put into operation it would result in all shops in the four Jarge centres being compelled to close on ■^the Saturday afternoon, while shops in fSfche immediate surrounding districts would £j» allowed to remain open. Suet a of things would piove detrimental §*© aeany city retailers, without conferring fjßiv substantial benefit upon any consider;]M»le portion of the community. Tlie ■-jttQOgest possible representation bad been \<BJ»de to the Government, protesting such important legislative measF|n!B being pushed through Parliament nJorinig the dying hours of the session, gfeepresentatlons had a-'so been- made to ipne Minister of Labour asking for a Hgpeel of the of the act providing Hwjc, 4 poll of the electors on the question Bpgu weekly half Jwlidfty. The repre■ptiations so far made had been without

effect, but it was hoped that the "Stronger measures it was proponed to take would be more successful. The report directs 'attention to the extremely Socialistic nature of the discussions that took place *nd the propoeala adopted at the Trades and Labour Conference in "Wellington this year, especially the principle of limiting the output, recommended by several speakers. The idea prevalent amongst unionists that h was their duty to do no I more vrork than they were compelled to do was so apparent in connection -with many of our industries that it had become incumbent upon employers wherever such was noticeable to take strong measures to combat the " canny ' policy now advocated by the Labour leaders. Tlie report commented upon tlie decision of the Special Conciliation Board given in the Auckland tramways dispute, and said, that the lesson to be learned from it was that employers should insist when their interests were at stake that the proper legal course should be followed. Congcatulatory letters were read from the Building Employers' Federation. South Africa, aix* the Employers' Fedeiation of Queensland arid Xew South Wales, ami aJso froan the Chamber of Mines of West Australia. Tho ekttion of officers resulted as follows .—President, Mr W. 6. Foster (Wellington Expoit Comp-iny) ; vke-piesidenl, Hon C. M. Luke. M.L.O. : treacui'T. Mr R. A. Scott (Wairarapa Farmers' A&?ociation) ; trustee. Mr W. H. Bennett (presider^ of the Wellington Bui!dei>' A*&ociationT; aiuhtor, My W. C Stephen ; Parliajnentary Committee — }le*si - o Jamc* Allen, M.P...T. Godber, J. Bevendge. 11. Seaton, C. il. Banks, G. H. Chapman. «nd" F. Mar ley.

The following resolutions were carried : " Owing to the aggressive attitude of the Labour party, this meeting is of opinion that the time has arrived for federating all individual trades, £O that in the event of a strike taking place it might be dealt with by the general body in place of by individuals, as has been the custom in the past." That it be a recommendation to employers in all industries where a number of awards operate that the provisions contained in clause 24 of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act be taken advantage of with a view to getting unanimity of awards in related trades." October 8. The Employers' Federation Conference passed resolutions to-day strongly opposing by every means in its power the granting of preference to unionists in any form ; and that the conference consider that the spirit and intention of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act has been perverted in that the Arbitration Court fixes a standard wage for worker-" instead of the true minimum wage. It urges employers and their representatives before the court to emphasi&e this fact and to endeavour to secure the fixing of a minimum wage only. It also affirmed that, in the present condition of the ftaxmilHnj; industry St^te regulation of the ro^t of production, where the pri' o of the pioduot cannot be regulated by the State or by the producer, is wrong in pnncipl<\ Further pa.« c cci wero — '"Thru the. federation de^plv dcploiet, i'hm various att.uks on the AYbitrntion (Joint [ that have been made from time to time

by the trades unions of the Dominion. In our opinion the Arbitration Court has been particularly fortunate- in having been preeided over by able and conscientious men. From its first president (Mr Justice Williams) down to Mr Justice Sim, all have been actuated by a deep desire "to do justice to all classes, and have at times given Labour even more than ite due with a view to allaying the unrest, which has from time to time manifested itself among the workers. This being so, employers generally look upon these attacks as unfounded and unwarranted, and aiming at the destruction of that confidence which is so essential, and which, up till recently, all classes have reposed in the judges of the Dominion. That the dairying, agricultural and flaxmilling industries fchould be exempt fronr th<j working of the Arbitration Act." The conference has closed.

Storrie's E.idprer is the only one -wilh parent hillside attachment * ami .facilities for packiris drills where the land is dry.— Nirnmo and Blair. On" of the shakers at the last meeting of the Now Zealand XatneV A^ociatio \va<- of oi.inion thin the term V Ma on-laudf-i L.MiiLr ino'O euphonious than New Zealand"! -houM be adopted in connection with iL' .■i-ociauon'n pio' ceding, lne m<"=>Tinc fmiih i' 'ci'M to stick to the " New Zpaij.rid' 1 ! \ tri yopr-o!<l dd'ii'litor of Mr G. ±son-nin-yion/of \Ndir.-tti Valley, met with a painful account on Sun-day week. She v, n- Icariinir ajraimt a railing round her Hi'ii'K"'-- em the lot a 4 "cemetery, when i< gaw v.iv. and she M\ against a. hearl•<j'ie. breaking her right arm above the elbow s