UNITED FRONT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20787, 23 July 1937, Page 8

UNITED FRONT

EMPLOYERS MAKE DECISION TO AMALGAMATE WITH CHRISTCHURCH Realising that strength lies in a united front, the South Canterbury Employers’ Association at its annual meeting last night decided to amalgamate with the Canterbury Employers’ Association. By the change the Association will not lose its identity. A delegation from the Canterbury Association, comprising the president, Mr C. W. Hervey, Messrs K. Ballantyne, C. Taylor. H. C. Govan, S. G. Holland, M.P., Colonel J. Murphy and Mr W. I. Macdonald (secretary) attended the meeting and outlined the advantages of amalgamation. Mr Macdonald also answered a number of questions relating to representation, subscription and the consideration of award proposals. Trend to Dominion Awards Th a trend in industrial affairs towards Dominion awards, in which South Canterbury had no power ♦ □ make representations, and the urgent need of employers to band together in large, strong associations were emphasised by the delegation, who referred to the statement of the Primo Minister (Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) that he wanted to hear one strong voice and not a number of little ones. It was *nade clear that in local affairs the South Canterbury Association would retain its identity and organisation, while the membership of individual employers to the Canterbury Association would give them the benefit of a larger and stronger organisation and the sendees of its secretary, the wellknown advocate, Mr D. I. Macdonald. It was pointed out that since the amalgamation of Marlborough and Westland with the Canterbury Association, towns of approximately the same size as Timaru and smaller were included in the industrial district, so that in considering measures suitable to smaller towns the Christchurch executive had ample information regarding their problems. The benefits which would rccrue both to South Canterbury and to Canterbury through the formation of one industrial district covering the whole of the northern half of the South Island also were emphasised.

The delegation retired for a few minutes and, after a brief discussion, which showed a diversity of opinion, a motion favouring amalgamation and instructing the executive to proceed with arrangements was carried.