RESOLUTIONS PASSED.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 12588, 8 October 1908, Page 5

RESOLUTIONS PASSED.

The following resolutions were carried* "Owing to the aggressive attitude of tho Labour Party, this meeting is of opinion that the time has arrived for federating all individual trades, so that in the event of a strike taking place, it might be dealt with by the general body in place of by individuals as has been the custom in the

past." and "That it Wa» Recommendation to employers that in all industries where a number of awards operate,' the provis ions contained in clause 24 of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act be t.iken advantage of, with a view to getting unanimity of awards in related trades." "THE CRAZE FOR LEGISLATION AND ITS AIMS." WELLINGTON, October 7

In the course of a paper on "The Cr.no for Legislation and 'some of its Aims,'' read betore the New Zealand Employers' Federation Conference to-day, lit H Broadhead, Secretary of the Cante-!iury Employers' Association, referred to what he described as "a remarkable rfi»n tf the times that, in most of the joung countries of the world, persistent attempts were being made' to have all sorts vi oc>cial problems dealt with by means of legislation." He referred more partb jiarJy to the Labour legislation of New Zealand, and held that the craze for legislation, like other crazes, would run its course,. "It is a matter of notoriety,' Mr Broadhead continued, "£hat a gross abuse has been made of the New Zeaund Arbitration Act, almost since ever it , came into force, by the manner in which disputes have been created by the Workers' Unions. While it has seemed to .nany that the machinery ' provided in the Act was partly responsible for this, it naa been held by some that the- Arbitration Court has exceed its jurisdiction in Hearing many purely fictitious disputes. ' Mr Broadhead dealt with the "Union 'abel" which was in use in America as an engine of boycott. "In Chicago we are told, he added, "the 'Union label' system is carried to an extreme. Members of the Unions ire commanded to buy inly Union goods under pain of heavy p-ial-ties. Bargain shops may not be patronised unless the walking delegate is satisfied that everything sold comes him. unionised factories. Members dealing with a merchant who does not use the label are heavily fined. Public attention is called to-, the boycott by a sand vie h man, placed in front of the tabooed »-hop, and often assisted by a kerbstone erator." Mr Broadhead dealt at considerable length with the legislative power that Labour has in Australia, and referred to many of the more recent decisions of the Courts in the Commonwealth. "Labour," he said, "makes no disguise of its intention to exploit capital, and without -any regard to the welfare of the

community, and having the votes, it employs what it believes to be the quickest and surest means- of effecting that purpose." What was happening in Australia deeply concerned New Zealand. The danger came through Parliament there, and of late years there have certainly been measures of a most objectionable type enacted by the New Zealand Parliament, but if the Socialistic element^ became, stronger in the House than it was at present they, would have legislation as menacing to the welfare of the people as had ever been brought forward in Australia. The fight against Socialism wa3 really only beginning, and if - the whole community would wake up before it was too late and exercise its rights of citizenship, the land mjght be saved from untold trouble. What he feared was that there was among many people too much apathy.

Concluding, Mr Broadhead said: "What I think democratic New Zealand wants today is 'a man.' I believe that nearly all the great reforms which have left a permanent blessing upon mankind have been chiefly brought about through the influence of a few great men. I feel certain that what the people of this country require is a man with a great personality, a man above party, place, or power, a man whose sole ambition .$ to save his country and who has the genius ; to lead the people." The people had I. en accustomed to have it dinned into den ears that what they required was t'lenty of legislation. What they really required was to be told that they ciuld do much better for themselves wthout legislation. In 'these days the legislative machine was run to death and the result was a cry for more of it. It certainly did not produce hapiness and contentment among the people.