EMPLOYERS MUST SPEAK THE WORD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18640, 18 December 1928, Page 8

EMPLOYERS MUST SPEAK THE WORD.

“ THE TIMES ” REVIEWS CO-OPERATION QUESTION. (United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received December 18. 9.5 a.m ) LONDON, December 17. “ The Times ” in a leader on cooperation, emphasising that within a day or two employers will be meeting to examine the question of industrial co-operation, recalls that “ just a year has elapsed since Lord Melchett launched his proposal, but whereas the Trades Union Congress publicly debated and approved of the scheme in September the employers are meet ing in private and leaving the public uninformed concerning the nature and force of the arguments influencing their action regarding this paramount industrial question. “ Two employers’ associations, although reciprocating the desire for a better understanding, are not permitted by their constitutions to undertake such negotiations, but a method of linking them will be found if the purpose of the negotiations is approved. Perhaps the employers’ associations have a lingering suspicion of the Trades Unionists’ intentions, but the only proof of a change of heart is practice and habit, which the Trades Unions have done by the adoption of the policy of co-operation. Meanwhile an interim report published in July as a result of the employers’ and Trades Unionists’ unofficial discussions, indicates a joint desire for co-opera-tion, but it is incomplete if the movement is whittled down to the improvement of the machinery for dealing with disputes. The incentive will largelv e\*aporate. Whole-hearted co-opera-tion is the need to-day, but the word, making co-operation an early and hopeful experiment, has at this stage to be spoken by the employers.”—Australian Press Association.