EMPLOYERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16822, 21 August 1920, Page 6

EMPLOYERS’ ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING AND DINNER. The annual meeting and dinner of the Taranaki Employers' Association was held at the Waratah Dining Booms, New Plymouth, on Friday evening. Mi’. J. W. Hayden, president, occupying the chair, and Mr. ’P. E. Stamton, vice-president, the vice-chair. There was a good attendance of members. After an excellent dinner had been served, and the usual loyal toast honoured," the business of the annual meeting was proceeded with. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report stated: Members’ 'Subscriptions.—At the beginning of tho year it was resolved to raise tno subscriptions of the members, and as a result, together with tho addition of new mourners, the subscriptions for the year totalled £238 7s lid against £B6 12s for the previous yeai. During tho year we were able to organise only one town outside New Plymouth, namely, Inglewood, and the number of now members scoured from that town was most encouraging. This coming year it is proposed to. employ an outside organiser to organsie the remaining towns in Taranaki. The urgency of this matter has been ever before your executive, but it has been found difficult for any member to give the time necessary for such work, as it entails at least a week in each town. Executive Meetings.—During the year nine executive meetings have been hold in addition to many sub-commit-tee meetings dealing with special matters. The general attendance at these meetings was not as satisfactory as one would have liked, the average attendance being four members per meeting, and as our executive numbers 15 it will bo seen that there Is a good deal of room for improvement. Right Watchman.—The night watchman is still with us and continues to do good work. During the jyear subscriptions were raised, as it was felt that the night watchman’s salary was inadequate to meet the ever-rising cost of living. The necessity of having such an oflicer in the town is evidenced from tho perusal of the following tabic:—During the year four incipient fires were discovered; 22 lights were left burning.; one burgla.r was surprised and- decamped, and not less than 75 doors and windows won) left open. In the annual accounts tna actual working of tho night watchman has been shown. The small profit of £ll 6s. 7d. was made as against a loss last year of £2O. Both there amounts are arrived at after charging £lO as the proportion of the secretary’s salary to cover clerical expenses. Industrial Dismites.— During the year the following disputes arose and were dealt with by conciliation: Drivers, bakers, grocers, and tailors. The bakers’ and tailors’ disputes were dealt with by the Master Bakers’ and the Master Tailors’ Associations respectively and were settled satisfactorily, although tho tailors’ dispute went to tho Arbitration Court, where a good deal of interest was displayed on both sides. Tho drivers’ dispute Was settled on tho basis of the Dominion award, while the grocers met their men ap.d came to n, satisfactory understanding! 1 In addition to this there have, of course, been several applications tor the cost of living bonus which is awarded by the Arbitration Court in accordance with its pronouncements from time to time. Industrial Peace Conference. —Arising out of a resolution which was passeu at tho last general meeting, a coufetv enco was held in Wellington 'to devise ways and means of bringing about industrial peace. The vice-president, Mr. Etainton, attended on behalf-of the association.

.1?" -r<i of Trade Act, 1919.—A great deal f annoyance has been brought on trad. - : by the restrictions placed on trading by tho Board of Trade Act. The Act contains many clauses which in order to attain smoother working will require amending in _ some* shape or form. Not the least is the defect existing which does not in any way describe what is a reasonable profit. To £ resent tho case of tho traders of the dominion before tho Government a conference of all traders throughout tho Dominion was recently held in Welling-, ton. Your association was represented there, and also in a deputation to the Board of Trade and to the Prime Minister. While no definite reply was received, yqt the deputation was thanked for having put the o'i'ter side of tho question before the Government. In conclusion, members were urged to take on active interest in the affairs of the association. Tho halance-eheet showed an excess of income over expenditure amounting to £47. Tho chairman formally moved the adoption of tho report and balancesheet. Mr. Stainton seconded, and the motion was carried without discussion. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Officers were elected as follows for tho ensuing year: President, Mr. P. E. Stainton; vice-president, .Mr. J. W. Hayden; executive, Messrs. IV. Henley. W. Ambury, R. J. Dears A. E. Sykes, J. M'Neill, 0. Carter, C. E, Baker, W. C. Weston, E. S. Johns, F. .Jackson, J. G-. Fox, IV. 6. Reed, J. Bennett, R. H. George, H. B. Gray. Mr. E. P. Webster was re-elected auditor. Mr. Hayden, declined nomination for a further term as president, and general regret was expressed that he could not see his way to continue in office, eulogistic reference being made to his valued services to the association, which in a very large measure owed the successful position it held to his untiring efforts. THE PEACE CONFERENCE. Mr. Stainton presented a report in which he dealt with.the business transacted at tho conference of delegates of tho Employers’ Federation hold in Wellington with the object of endeavouring to bring about industrial peace. A short discussion ensued. In the course of it ihe opinion was expressed that if employees were allowed to meet and discuss matters with their employers direct good would be accomplished. On the other hand, it was felt that, so long as labour insisted on extremists and agitators meeting the employers, little progress was likely to be made.. Mr. C. H. Wynyard stressed the need for unanimity of opinion among the employers, and Mr. Ust said the present arbitration system should be abolished and indxistrial councils and wages hoards substituted. It was, he contended, impossible for one court to be familiar with the intricacies of every trade. SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY. Mr. Hayden referred to the question of a universal Saturday half-holiday and said that when asked to legislate by resolutions passed by numerous borough and comity councils, the Government

declined to do so on tlie ground that they had not been asked by business people. Mr. Hayden pointed out that at a conference in Stratford practically .every town but Eltham had agreed to support the Saturday half-holiday, but owing to a flaw in the proceedings it could not bo introduced until a poll had been taken. The matter would be brought forward next March, and though he would not like to see the association officially give a lead in a matter about which there were diverse opinions, he would like to see some unanimity of opinion. Waitara, Inglewood, and Stratford would, he felt sure, follow New Plymouth’s lead, and he felt that the business people would lose nothing by the change. In fact; a business man in Wanganui who, had spent £7O opposing the change from Thursday to Saturday, had assured him that ho would now spend a similar amount in retaining Saturday as the half-holiday. Mr. C. Carter suggested that a representative gathering of _ employers from the whole of Taranaki should be held after the proposed canvass had been made. The matter of the Saturday half-holiday might be discussed as well as other matters of importance te retailers. Tho suggestion was considered a good one and it was understood will he followed. GENERAL. On the motion of Mr. Carter and Mr. J-. Bennett, a very hearty vote of thanks was accorded the retiring officers for their services during the past year, special reference being made to the splendid work of the secretary (Mr. C. H. Wynyard). At intervals during the evening Messrs. N. Day and C. Webster rendered songs, the accompaniments being played by Mr. A. 0. Sturrock, who also contributed a pianoforte solo.