EMPLOYERS' CONCLAVE.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15314, 15 August 1923, Page 5

EMPLOYERS' CONCLAVE.

UNSETTLED PROBLEMS. STRIKES AND JOB CONTROL. A NATION OF BUSH LAWYERS. Received August 15, 12.30 p.m. SYDNEY, August 15. The annual conference of the Employers' Federations of Australia has opened. Representatives -of all the States except Tasmania are present. Mr Fairbairn, in his presidential address, said that many of the difficult problems which confronted employers were still unsettled. Strikes and job control were still as prevalent as over, but a hopeful sign was lhat the moderate employees seemed at last lo be tiring of being led by extremists. He favoured conferences between employers and employees to setilc industrial disputes. After condemning a resolution by the Premiers' Conference favouring an amendment to the constitution "for extending Commonwealth industrial conditions generally, he added that at present, instead of becoming a race of workers they were becoming a race of bush lawyers, and he proceeded to advocate an Unemployment Insurance Act on the lines of the British Act as a remedy for unemployment. Mr Fairbairn concluded, by condemning preference voting which stands all in favour of Labour, and if used al next elections would result in Labour Ministcrics again being in power.