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Waipawa Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 2502, 6 September 1890, Page 2

A representative gathering of employers of labour was held at Napier last Thursday, Mr W. Nelson occupying the chair. We have no hesitation in saying, that, if the same step had been taken a y* ar or two ago, the present labor troubles would never nave arisen, so far as this district is concerned. An association was formed, to include all classes of employers and workmen. It is proposed to establish a Board of Conciliation for the settlement of all disputes; to enroll all classes, including unionists ; to improve the condition of all workers ; to establish a fund for the protection of members, and an accident fund fer the benefit of workers, at the expense of employers only ; and to affiliate with similar Associations throughout the colony. It is noteworthy that none of the speakers opposed unionism per se, —-as Mr Coleman said, their own action showed their approval of it, —but they considered it necessary to place some check on the actions of unionists, and to provide some means other than a trial of strength for the settlement of disputes. None of the other projected employers’ associations have adopted such a broad platform. There was a cordial recognition of their duty to promote the true interests of workmen. Some capitalist organs, in discussing these labour troubles, assume that it will be the duty of an employers’ association to crush unionism. This idea found no favour at the meeting in Napier. With the growth of a powerful employers’ Association, the worst features of trades unionism will disappear, because the grievances of workmen 'will be otherwise removed. Trades unionism has done good if it has only proved the means of calling into existence other organisations to carry forward its useful work. Those who decry it may be asked how long, but for it, might the world have waited for an organisation of employers to ameliorate the condition of workmen, The objections to affiliation of unions, whether capitalists’ or workmens’, apply with equal force to national alliances for peace or war; and as those v -tional alliances, by threatening the peace of the world, are paving the way to international arbitration, so, may we hope, shall our constant risk of being drawn into the vortex of some struggle in which we have no direct interest lead to the constitution of one grand tribunal for the final settlement of all labor disputes.