RIGID AWARDS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 234, 2 October 1931, Page 4

RIGID AWARDS.

“ Rules of the Past Cannot Apply Now.” REVIEW OF LEGISLATION. (Special to the “Star”). WELLINGTON, October 1. “ The rules we. had in the past cannot apply now, with the number of unemployed at over 50,000,” said the Prime Minister, Mr Forbes, when addressing a deputation from the Trades and Labour Councils Federation of New Zealand yesterday. The deputation, which had been alarmed at rumours that industrial awards were to be suspended, was told by Mr Forbes that the Arbitration Act in its relation to Unemployment was under Cabinet consideration. An amendment would be submitted to the House before the end of the session, but no decision as to its form had been reached.

Mr Forbes in the course of his reply said that no official statement had appeared in the Press and that the information published was what the reporters gathered from their own impressions.

“ The matter is under consideration of the Government,” said the Prime Minister, “ but nothing has been decided. We are discussing what is the best thing to do under the circumstances. We are up against unprecedented times, and the rules we had in the past cannot apply now, with the number of unemployed at over 50,000. We have never before been within cooee of such a position. In addition we have thousands of boys leaving school who are unable to find employment. When we have these problems, which must be solved in some way, the restrictions and awards at present in existence have to be closely scrutinised to ascertain whether they are not doing something to hamper this question of employment. The Government, therefore, is going closely into the whole question.” Difficulty of Rigid Awards. The Prime Minister pointed out that any alteration to the Act decided upon would have to be made by Parliament. That would give unions and others interested ample time in which to place their full case before Parliament and the Government before anything was done. “ We don’t want to do anything that is unfair,” the Prime Minister added. “ but we do want to do something to meet the present unprecedented position. Rigid awards are making it difficult in dealing with unemployment generally, and also with the question of employment of young people.” “ Tell us some of the conditions that are rigid,” interjected a member of the deputation. The Prime Minister: I have told you that the matter is under consideration, and this is not the time to go into details. These will be gone into and thrashed out when the question is before Parliament. Then there will be full opportunity for discussion and representation. A Sad Feature. “ There is nothing sadder than the fact of the great many lads leaving school with the prospect of finding no employment at all,” declared Mr Forbes. “We are, as I have said, examining the position regarding the Court and awards to see whether an improvement can be made that will enable more employment to be provided. If that can be done it will be something of great value to New Zealand. The position is abnormal, and to-day we must do things we would not have dreamt of doing previously. We are not endeavouring to create trouble, but to do the best we can for the people of New Zealand. We may make mistakes, but we are striving to carry out the government of the country so that whatever hardship there is will be spread as widely as possible, and the benefits in the same way.” Concluding, the Prime Minister emphasised that so far no decision had been reached concerning the alteration to the Act, but that all avenues were being examined to determine its effect on unemployment, the extent of its influence and the nature of the amendment that would be necessary. No march would be stolen on industrial unions. They would have full opportunity of making their representations when the question came before the House. THE DEPUTATION’S VIEWS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, October 1. A deputation from the Trades and Labour Councils Federation waited on Mr Forbes to-day. Associated with the Prime Minister were the Minister of Public Works (Mr Coates) and the Minister of Labour (Mr Hamilton). The deputation was introduced by Mr Fraser, M.P. Mr E. Kennedy expressed the Federation’s concern at the rumours in circulation to the effect that the Government intended to suspend awards. Mr F. D. Cornwell, secretary of the Federation, said it was suggested that if any change were proposed the workers’ representatives should be given a chance of discussing the question in conference with the emploj’ers and the Government. The Prime Minister: We have had a conference and you and I were present.

Mr Cornwell said the proposals made at the Industrial Conference were known, but the present intentions of the Government were not. The Arbitration system was working satisfactorily, and if any alteration were made the workers were entitled to know what was proposed. Mr A. W. Croskery said New Zealand had been singularly free from indus-

trial troubles since the passing of the Arbitration Act, and this was due largely to the fact that there was means for adjustment of industrial disputes. The Dominion was not the only country suffering from post-war depression, but no other country had seen fit to suspend the operation of industrial agreements. Much unemployment could be done away with by abolishing all overtime. Another course that could be followed was to shorten the working week and so make room for more workers.

Mr Forbes said the question of Arbitration Court awards was under .Consideration by Cabinet. "I did not think there were two opinions left about the 10 per cent cut,” the Prime Minister added. “ I really thought the workers would recognise it was absolutely inevitable, but when you come along and say that is one of the things to which you are opposed and that the cut should be restored I can see it is no good discussing other questions as to what is absolutely necessary for the country.” As reasonable and sensible men the deputation must realise that overhead costs had to be cut down. ‘‘There is no question that costs are coming down and that the cost of living is coming down,” Mr Forbes said. This was greeted with dissent by several present. The Prime Minister said it was obvious there was no common ground on which they could meet for discussion. When the Government Statistician’s figures showed that the cost of living was coming down they were not believed, but when it was shown that the cost of living had gone up this was accepted immediately. The Government did not wish to do anything unfair, but it was clear that awards were making the unemployment position more difficult. Nothing but what was absolutely necessary would be done. There would be full opportunity of discussing the question when it came before Parliament.