MINISTER OF LABOUR INTERVIEWED.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12490, 17 March 1909, Page 3

MINISTER OF LABOUR INTERVIEWED.

I United Pbess Association. ]

r Wellington, March 16. A deputation - from the ' Furniture workers' -Union 'had rather ari animated discussiorl Tvith Mr A, W Hogg Minister 'of 'Labour, to-day. Mr Wilford, vMvP., explained that the officers of the Labour Department took up' the position that certain p"ro-visions-m the -furniture' workers' award- were-in conflict with the Fac--fcones -A.<=t, a«i<l mnst therefore J?& izxoperative.; L Tli6 uni6»; 'however, Leld that tae. avfard was Valid and must be maintained. ■ - .-■ '•': ...

Complaint was made by the depu^ tation that the D.I.C. discharged a non-unionist . during slackness of work and afterwards put the same man on again while unionists were out of work, and that the Department had declined to ask the Court for an interpretation of the award as to whether the man had been discharged;Another complaint was that some country; employers; had been paying fortnightly instead of weekly. The union, thought that a ' conviction for breach '■ of; the award should be ' obtained. .Chief Inspector Lomas, however, had stated that his instructions were riot- to ask' for" less than a £10 fine; and-as that would be toosevere, he could do; nothing beyond cautioning; the employers. ' : ■'. .-- . ; | The Minister in reply said he did not; think there was much in the complaints. ; :He did not- want to see small "manufacturers and 'others unduly^h'ariipered; in their efforts. In regard to the case' of 'the non union-' isjt-whoiwas- sJßrit r away from work and then re i empldyed,-he fancied that any -humane emgloyer'having a- man'working for hiiri- would L be .'doing a great wrong if he did not take him back when-able to "do' so. ■ - ; '■ ■

; The_ deputation told the Minister tnat if .his "ruling ■ was right there would soon be no more unionists

The Minister -said it was dangerous to rush to r extremes. He deprecated attacks on factory inspectors, who were doing their duty. He strongly urged-' the men- to work in harmony with the employers. The Department was doing its Tiest; to help the unions, and'he : did; not'think' they should seize every opportunity 'to drive employers before the; iiourt. .; ' 'Capital and labour should- work" side "hy : . side. .■'_ The object of : the-Department was. to pr<ftect both ; sides: ■''" '■' '

•As an;,butcome'bf the interview the Minister promised to obtain the opin T ion of ;the Solicitor General on th' 6' follo^ving' questions : — (1) ;Hpw long does a _noh-uhionist have tolbe.oiit of employment before he istdeeined to be dismissed ? : ,■ ;(2) If a iion-unidnist is dismissed can his employer reinstate him instead "6f ia'.unionist "when there 'is :a ! -pfefOTence clause?- ' ■;:.'..;■■ .-.-:,.•. vii'-f-Y-j- ■«;.•}.;..' ■■■-■■ -■:-.■"•. '. ■ ■-: ■ ' *.■ '■ ; *DSrsV/oi'i ■;•.•.-.- I/ - , ; ! : '■■_■ :