UNIONS WILL HELP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11757, 22 July 1916, Page 4

UNIONS WILL HELP.

IN E PLOYING SOLDIERS.

IMPORTA NT CONEEL? ENCE YESTERDAY.

A conference representative of members of the C.IMJ. and the trade unions of the city v.\-is he'u yesterday afternoon, for the purpose of discussing tlifi question of providing cniploynwnv for returned soldiers. Th>s© present were: -.Messrs <T. D. 3Sil!ton and A. •F. Symons (repivsentin K tho C.D.C.), W. if. Seed (Industrial Association) and H. Hunter, \V- E. \\ oc-dlutnt, Ij. ■J. Howard, \V. Green. F. It. Cook, C. Cookson, F. KHi 1 * and D. G. Sullivan. Mr Symons, who presided, explained (he purposes of the meeting, and paid that many wild rumours were abroad concerning the attitude being adoptfd by 1.1)0 unions towards returned soldiers seeking employment. It had even been .said that these men were being refused admission to unions, to which they had belonged prior to the war. .Personally, lie did not believe such- a stateiuent, but his organisation had thought it desirable to meet- tho representatives of Labour and have the matter cleared up. The representatives of tho C.D.C. were there to get work for the soldiers, aiul would be glad to £ct tho co-oporat-ion of the unions. Tho union representative; stated emphatically that- the suggestions ot hostility on' their part towards soldiers seeking work wero without foundation in fact. It was untrue to say that returned soldiers were refused admission to the unions. They pointed out that admission could not be refused under the provisions or tho Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. So far from being hostile to the returned soldiers in the matter of securing employment. the unions were desirous of helping them, hut they resented any attempt on the part of einployC'l 8 to exploit the labour of the soldiers by seeking to secure permits to pay them less than they wero worth. In no case had the union secretaries refused a soldier a permit, and they were prepared to do all that lay in their power to help tho returned soldier by finding him work. . I 'The secretaries present also explained the operation of the under-rato workers' clause, which was attached to pvpvy award and agreement, whereby ; a worker who regarded himself as un- ' r ,blo to earn the minimum wage pro- ! vided by the award might agree with l the union secretary, concerning the wage lie should be allowed to work at) and, failing agreement, it was provided that the amount should he fixed by tho Inspector of Factories. > Alcssra Svrnons and Millton, on benalf of the C T).C., and Mr Seed (Industrial Association), expressed their pleasure and satisfaction at the remarks I made by the secretaries, and said i they showed the C.D.C. and tho unions | to have a. common purpose in regard to I securing employment for the returned I men. _ . Some discussion then took place concerning the desirability of Betting up a committee to regulate tho granting of permits for soldiers to work at under-rates, but it was pointed out that the Government had decideci to accede to a suggestion put forward by the Wellington Trades Council to set up [ a board in each district representative |of employers aud unions, to control this matter. '

A letter was received from Mr A. W. Jamieson, d'ealing with the difficulties hitherto experienced, and urging _ tho setting up of a combined committee, consisting of representatives of the various parties interested, to assist in looking after matters relating to the employment of returned men. It was decided to adopt Mr Jamieson's suggestion, and that tho committee should consist of seven members, three to be appointed by the Trades and Labour Council, three by the C.D.0.. tho six to elect ail independent chairman, tho objects of. the committee to be the finding of employment fo- returned men, and generally tho safeguarding of their interests. A suggestion by Mr Sullivan that the Government should bo .asked to make the wickerwork industry a preserve for the returned soldiers, imports to bo excluded, was referred to the committee, to be dealt with.