EMPLOYERS’ CONFERENCE

Southland Times, Issue 16844, 21 September 1911, Page 5

EMPLOYERS’ CONFERENCE

(Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 20. The New Zealand Employers’ Federation Conference opened to-day. Referring to industrial legislation passed last ■session, the annual report described the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill as easily the worst act on the Statute Book. Many of the clauses are inoperative, and some of them the Government have not put into operation. After reviewing other legislation, the report concluded : “The Executive emphasises the need for continued watchfulness in the interest of employers generally. The evidence of industrial up rest in the Dominion, in keeping with the dissatisfaction of the workers throughout the world. Indicates the need of a closer combination of those engaged in trades and industries. The organisation of workers and the movement towards the federation of the various qnlons throughout the Dominion call for still more concerted action on the part of the employers in connection with legislation and industrial disputes.” The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, referred to the worldwide character of labour troubles, so that they in New Zealand were not singular In that respect. He thought that Hue New Zealand Arbitration Act was certainly better than strikes every year. The difficulties of employers were increasing, and every year, too, their profits were, decreasing. It was evident that some great industrial change was imminent throughout the whole world, but, so far as Now Zealand was concerned. wldle the industrial, conciliation and arbitration legislation was in operation strikes should be made illegal, and unions should not be allowed to cancel their registration for the purpose of striking. The report was adopted.

It was pointed out by a delegate that employers had to insure apprentices, not only against accidents while at work, but also against any mishap that might incapacitate them while at play, and In such circumstances pay full wages. The Cease of aclnd who was playing football was mentioned. In that case, because the lad was an apprentice, his master had to pay him full wages while he was incapacitated. Had the lad been killed when not at work bis employer would have been free of liability for compensation of any sort.- —The meeting resolver! "That the Advisory Board of the Federation be asked to confer with the executive of the Underwriters’ Association in Wellington or take such other means a.s they deem necessary, with a view to arranging for a suitable insurance policy, covering apprentices for the whole of the twenty-four hours, such policy to cover employers against ail risks under the Workers’ Compensation for Accidents Act, common law indentures. and courts’ apprentice clause.” it was .also decided “That the Advisory Board bo requested to consider the advisability of forming an association for the purpose of taking employers’ risks under the Workers’ Compensation Act, Employers’ Liability Act, or other laws or awards under which employers are liable to pay wages or compensation to employees.” it was decided that statutory holidays should bo uniform throughout the dominion : that only statutory holidays be Inserted in awards or agreements, and tlint local holidays should be left to the discretion of each town ; that the Public Holidays Act be amended by providing for substitution of a special holiday declared by a local body in lieu of an" award holiday occurring in the same week ; that the Federation strongly oppose any niteration of the present legislation whereby each district lias a right to fix a day that shall be observed by such district for its statutory half-holiday." Jt was resolved to meet representatives of the Wellington and Potono Technical School Board to-morrow at 7.30 p.m. to discuss the question of recognition of time spent by students attending technical schools.