CITY AS EMPLOYER.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2018, 3 August 1920, Page 3

CITY AS EMPLOYER.

COUNCIL TO AFFILIATE WITH ASSOCIATION. LABOUR MEMBERS PROTEST. Considerable opposition was raised by members of Ihc Christchurch "City Council, at last evening's meeting to a proposal thai the council should join the Canterbury Employers' Association, Ihc membership Ice being £8 8/-. When (lie question of accounts came up, Cr F. R. Cooke said he objected to an item of £8 8/- contained in the statement. That money Was for the purpose of joining the Employers' Association, and he was opposed to the council's taking that step. He moved that the item he considered later. "You can't imagine Freddie Cooke acting on the Employers' Association." added the speaker amidst laughter.

Cr 11. Hunter: Has the money been paid? The Mayor (l)r 11. T. J. Thackcr, M.P.): Yes. Cr Hunter: On what authority has the council been affiliated? Cr .1. A. Fleshcr: It has been affiliated for years and years. Cr I). G. Sullivan: This matter of affiliation has been definitely objected to before. How long has the money been paid? The Mayor: I cannot tell you how long it has been paid. The Town Clerk (Mr 11. R. Smith 1: This is the first time. Cr Flesher: Then I have been tinder a misapprehension.

Cr Hunter seconded the motion ■which was carried.

Subsequently, the matter came tinder review when Hie report of the By-laws and Finance Committee was considered. The committer reported that ii hud decided tint it would he in the interests of the council to join the Employers' Association, and was arranging accordingly. Cr Cooke moved, as an amendment, that the clause be deleted from the report. Cr Hunter said thai the council had always studiously avoided taking this step. He would second the amendment. Cr Flesher said that the council fivailed itself of the services of officers of the association at Conciliation Council and Arbitration Court proceedings, and he hoped that the council would not turn the proposal down. Cr Sullivan: If you want expert advice, can you not go to the Trades Council? Cr Flesher: T don't mind going to you at any time. Aren't you secretary? Cr Sullivan: T have been nrcsident. 1 am not the secretary! Cr H. T. Armstrong said the council reoresented the people generally, and not class, as the F.niployers' Association did. "The association," continued Cr Armstrong, 'is snueezing the profits out of the working people of this country. That is the purpose for which il exists. Its very purpose is to combat bv every means in its power the first demands of the Working men of New Zealand. The association is opposed to the best interests of the country, and 1 am not going to be a party to affiliation with the association."

Cr J. \V. Beanland said (host; who were inclined to oppose affiliation missed an important point. The council was an employer, and, as Kucb, had a right to have someone to represent it at Arbitration Court proceedings. Cr D. C. Sullivan contended that Cr Beanland was wrong to assume that the council had identical interests with the members of the Em plovers' Association. It was a false argument. The sentiment binding the association was that of protecting its own profit-making interests. The council was out to give the public better services than private enterprise could do, '1 here was a fundamental difference between the outlook of the ordinary emplover and that of the council's. Cr H. F. Herbert considered that the council should not join the association. The council represented all classes of the people, and on that account it would not be the correct thing to join. Cr C. P. Agar said that the council was under a duty to the general body of ratepayers in seeing that it was properlv represented when the ■wages of its employees were being fixed. The workers themselves were represented bv union secretaries, who were experts in the procedure. Cr Cooke's amendment to strike out the clause was defeated by eight votes to seven, the voting being:— Avcs (7): Cooke. Herbert, Sullivan, Hunter, Langley, Burgoync and Annstrong.

Noes (Si: Beanland, Andrews. Jameson. Agar, Flesher, McKellar, Thacker and Williams.

The clause was adonled