EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14545, 25 October 1917, Page 6

EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION.

[United Press Association.;}

Wellington, Oct. '24. dealing with aiter-rcar .problems the ■annual report of the New Zealand Jl/iii- ■ plovers' Federation states^..—-"So far-as Hew Zealand is concerned, ib is certain that, unless by some means it is found possiblo to increase the- efficiency of the workers of. the Dominion, it will be found quite impossible to maintain ou. position as a manufacturing country. It is quite evident that the present system of increasing wages, shortening hours, and placing further restrictions •upon our trades and industries -must cease-if their expansion, or iHn their ■continuance in many cases, is to be secured. Just what should be done it is difficult to say. This might well be made the nrincipal subject for discussion at the annual meeting, ft is inevitable that, notwithstanding the favourable conditions of vvork in New ••Zealand, difficult problems regarding the industrial situation will lave to be dealt with by the federatiou in the near future." The annual conference of the Employers' Federation passed a resolution, •.''Ttat this federation is of opinion that the time nas arrived when a closer relationship should exist between the employers' organisations and the Trades and Labour Councils of New Zealand than hitherto has been the case." .__ Another resolution protested against tho action of the -Government in connection with suburban trains, contending that an evening train would entail little extra labour.

Mr T. S. Woston was re-cJeeted president, and a resolution was passed recording appreciation of k\n services to the federation during the ftwr .years in which iie had acted as president.