INDUSTRIAL LAWS

Otago Witness, Issue 2955, 2 November 1910, Page 29

INDUSTRIAL LAWS

SYDNEY, October 25. The Chamber of Manufacturers has decided to convene a conference to consider the trend of industrial legislation and other matters affecting the industries of the State. Some strong speeches were made against some of the laws now being placed on the Statute Book. It was held that the. manufacturer was surrounded by a network of laws that had been enacted for the benefit of the employees without due consideration of their fairness or possible results. Mr Wunderlich, president of the chamber, claimed that no one could shut hie eyes to the gravity of the situation. The ultimate object of all this legislation was that the men should rule the masters. Already they dictated the hours, the wages, and the class of labour to be employed. The next step would be the governing of the profits. Once that point was reached the final step would be in the direction of laying hands on the profits on the plea that the individual welfare should yield to national interests. In the near future they would have to face the danger of an attempt at the wholesale nationalisation of all sources of industries. Who, having capital and a life interest in an industry, was going calmly and weakly to submit to such revolutionary methods? One speaker warned the meeting that the proposed conference would be a great mistake. It would be like holding a red rag to a bull. It was better to leave well enough alone,- *» . — ■—