INDUSTRIAL PROBLEMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1920, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL PROBLEMS.

FINDING A SOLUTION. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DISCUSSION.. Present day industrial problems came under review at .the quarterly meeting of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce last evening, the subject being introduced by a letter from the Welfare League directing attention to the proposal that the Government should be asked to call a joint National Industrial Conference. In an accompanying memorandum it was stated that opportunity would be given for consideration of such questions as: (a) The beat methods of settling industrial disputes; (b) the application of the Whitley scheme, or any otiier plan of co-opera-tive scheme; (c) the amending of the labor laws in order to make them more applicable to changed conditions. Mr. H. Cocker moved that the Chamber give support to the Wvement urging the Government to call the conference. It was, he said, a question just as important as had been the winning of the war. Mr. D. K. Morrison seconded. The chairman doubted whether such a conference would be of any great help at the present time, for the reason that they had as leaders of the industrial movement men who were avowedly out to smash the present social system, come what may afterwards. There would need to be a change of view and of spirit before an improvement in industrial conditions could be effected. He was pessimistic enough to believe that there would even be a big trial of strength before a better spirit prevailed and a solution evolved. ~ Mr. C. H. Burgess agreed with the views of the chairman. They must have reason amongst the leaders of the workers before an improvement in .conditions could be made. If there was any possibility of good arising from a conference he would support the movement, but so far as lie could see there was at present no such possibility. Mr. D. K. Morrison said the result of such a conference would not be detri-. mental to the employer. There was the possibility it might do a certain amount of' good The chairman said that if at the conference there were assembled the true representatives of the workers j-ho gathering might be productive of some good, but they had absolutely no promise that there would be. Mr. Cocker was afraid that the employers had shirked facing the position in the past. The chairman: It's only lately that they have faced the position and taken up a strong stand in the interests of the community; as in Wellington. In the past they have been too weak and given way all the time. Mr. P. V. Stainton (delegate to the. Employers' Conference at Wellington) Baid the conference discussed all possible ways and means of getting a conference whence good would result. Very definite advice was received that any conference convened would be held with the leaders of the unions and not with the men themselves. It was felt, however, that it was impossible to deal with men who were only agitators and extremists, and not with the men who were actually affected. More unity on. the part of the employers had also been urged. At the present time they were a very disjointed force. The motioft y> of the conference Was lost, - •"' -