LABOUR.

Temuka Leader, Issue 5794, 23 March 1909, Page 1

LABOUR.

A deputation representing the Fur. liiture Workers' Union., and consisting of Messrs Moriarty (secretary), Gundy (president), and Cave (vice-president) had a somewhat animated discussion with the Hon.' A. "W. Hog™ (Minister for Labour), oi?i Monday Irs I. Mr Wiliord, M.P., explained that the officers of the Labour Department took up the position that provisions of the furniture workers' award were in contiict with the Factories Act, and must therefore be- inoperative. The Union, however, held that the award was valid, and must be jiaiintainyd. Complaint was made by the deputation that the D.I.C discharged a non-unionist during slackwork and afterwards put tho same 'man on again while unionists were out of work, and that the Department had declined to a sic the Court for an interpretation of the award as to whether tho 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 a breach of award should be obtained. The Chief Inspector (Mr Loams), however, had stated that his instructions were not to ask for less than a £lO line, andi.s that would bo too severe he could do nc thing beyond cautioning the employers.

Tin; Minister, in reply, -said that he did not think there was much in the complaints. Ho did lw t want to sec small manufacturers and others unduly hampered in their efforts._ .In regard to the case of a non-unionist who was sent away for a few days owing to slackness of work and then re eniiploycd, he fancied that any humane employer having a man ■working for him -would, be doing a great wrong if he did not take him back when able to do 80. The deputation told the Minister that df hiri ruling was right there would soon be no more Lnionists.

The Minister : '*i have given no ruling whatever." It was dangerous to rush) to extremes, lie deprecated attach on factory inspectors, who were doing their duty, ami he K U\>i»jjly urged the men to work" in harmony with the employers, lie would like to see harmony among all classes of workers whether they were unionists or not, and between Capital and Laibour. They should work side by side. In a country like this, with its voting industries employers were often in a more dilhcult position, with their cares and responsibilities, than the workers. 'J he object of the Labour Department was to protect, not one side alone, but both sides—tq protect the men who had sunk their capital in manufacturing industries, and the men they employed as well. If they only looked at " things in' the right way, then.' would bo very little trouble. He thought the new A,ct would e'.i'ect a great improvement, in causing Vrenehvs of award to bo dealt with promptly by a Magistrate. Inspectors should not seek every opportunity to bring employers and workers to the Court Unless there was a clear case, they should do no more than give a warning. An employer should have an opportunity of doing what was right. That was only fair and reasonable. If he persisted in doing wrong, and then: was a clear case, against him, he should be brought before the Magistrate. As the outcome of the interview the Minister promised to obtain an opinion from the Solicitor-! lenvral on the following (piestions :—(1 ) How long does a non-unionist have to be out of employment before he is deemed to \»- dismissed '! {'l) If a non-unionist is dismissed, can his employer reinstate him instead of a I'nionist, when there is a preference clause ? SVDN'KV. March in. At a meeting of He directors of the Proprietary Company it was* deeid.-d to test ' (he 'validity of Mr du-liee Iliggine's Broken TT ill Arbitration "award before the High Conn ai the earliest possible date'.