LABOURERS' UNION DEPUTATION.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13420, 18 March 1914, Page 2 (Supplement)

LABOURERS' UNION DEPUTATION.

COST OF LIVING AND OTHER MATTERS

Prior to the deputations being heard in the Council' Chambers, the Prime Minister received a deputation from the Labourers' Union, consisting of Messrs. W. H. Braddock (president), and J. Ingram (secretary) in tho Mayor's room.

Mr. Ingram asked if the Government would have the Workers' Compensation Act amended to provide for increased compensation in the eyent of loss of five fingers of the right hand. The Prime Minister said there were several alterations made in the schedule last session, details.of which he could not recollect. If there were any other reasonable alterations required he was quite willing to ask Parliament to do it.

Mr. Ingram then asked the Prime Minister if it was lawful for any member of the Employers' Association to take an active part on the executive committee of an industrial union or to hold office in same. If it was, would he havo th© same rectified?

Mr. Massoy said he was inclined to think the law allowed it. It was a technical point. If the matter was put in writing ho would ascertain what the legal position was and let the deputation know.

Mr. Ingram then asked if the Government would make it lawful for an industrial agreement to become an award as soon as it was filed instead of having to wait until the Court came along and made it an award. The agreement, he said, was not enfovciblo until then.

Mr. Masse^-: Yes it- is. Legislation last session amended the Act in that direction, and an industrial agreement had the force of an award.

Mr. Ingrain .then referred to the cost of living. He said that every time the worker secured an increase of wages, the- other side raised the price of commodities. If wages were increased ten per cent the cost of living increased 45 per cent. Mr, Ingram said they were there to ask the Prime Minister to rectify it if he possibly could. He claimed that the wages had never been set by the Court or the Government, and contended that the difference between expenditure and income was their wage. He asked the Prime Minister to fix the cost, of living. If he did not, Mr. Ingram said there would always be upheavals.

Mr. Massey: Do you think it possible?

Mr. Ingram: It is- possible to fix the rate of wages; it is possible to fis the price of commodities.

Mr. Massey: It was tried hundreds of years ago, but without success. Mr. Ingram: Will you endeavour to try and get'some means ?

Mr. Massey: "I will promise that it will foe gone into, but I hold out very little hope of your suggestion being provided for by law." The suggestion had occurred to thousands of people in days gone by, but it had not been given effect to. The difficulty was to find a solution of the problem. The deputation then thanked Mr. Massey and withdrew.

Several other deputations were introduced, and received a courteous hearing. Mr Atmore thanked the Prime Minister for receiving the deputations, und tho proceedings terminated.