"NO DESIRE TO KILL THE INDUSTRY GOOSE”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 531, 7 December 1928, Page 9

"NO DESIRE TO KILL THE INDUSTRY GOOSE”

AUSTRALIANS GET TOGETHER TO SEEK PEACE (United P.A. —By Telegraph — Copyright) Reed. 9.30 a.m. MELBOURNE To-day The Peace-in-Industry Conference, in which prominent employers, representatives of commercial, shipping, and other interests, together with trade union officials throughout Australia are participating, was opened with Sir Wallace Bruce, former Lord Mayor of Adelaide, as chairman. The convener of the conference, Mr. James MacDougall, chairman of the Associated Chambers of Manufacturers, appealed to the delegates to leave prejudices outside the door, to hasten slowly, and make a sincere effort to understand each other. He regretted the absence of the Australian Workers’ Union delegates, who are holding aloof. He added that this was the first deliberate desire to learn something of each other’s viewpoint. A message was read from the Gov-ernor-General, Lord Stonehaven: — “The ideal before you is of such vital importance to the prosperity of this beautiful country and people that the prayers of all will be offered for its attainment.” Mr. W. Duggan, president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, said he was convinced every employer was not tyrannical because he was an employer, just as every worker was not a striker because he tried to improve his working conditions. Mr. Duggan added: “We realise that industry is a goose that lays golden eggs, and while we may quarrel over distribution of the eggs, we have no desire to kill the goose.”