The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, MAY 23, 1908. THE EMPLOYERS’ ASSOCIATION OF POVERTY DAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2198, 23 May 1908, Page 2

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, MAY 23, 1908. THE EMPLOYERS’ ASSOCIATION OF POVERTY DAY.

Mr, William Pryor could scarcely have chosen a more opportune time for his endeavor to induce local employers to organise than the week during which the Arbitration Court was conducting a local session. The cases that have come beforo the Court, though- in many cases of a trilling nature, must certainly have produced a strong feeling of irritation oil the part of the large number of employers who wore from one cause and another cited to appear there. Moreover, the unusual activity that him been displayed in recent months by the Labor inspectors lias bred a marked feeling of uneasiness amongst locil employers, who have not taken kindly to tlio sudden enforcement of many liiirraesing .conditions.- Not only that, but recent events in the industrial world must have made it plain to even the most apathetic that a crisis is rapidly being approached in labor matters in the Dominion. Littlo over a year ago it was the proud boast of tlio New Zealander tilln t this was the country without strikes; to-day he daro not make tlio assertion, hut must instead listen to tlio jibes of those who toll him sneoringly" that his muchboasted system of compulsory arbirtation lias broken down. As a matter of fact, it has not broken down, and we nro still in hopes that it may survive the present strain, but there is no gainsaying the fact that tlio position is perilous from the point of view of those who look upon the arbitration system as one of tlio bulwarks of the country’s industrial welfare. First there was the slaughtermen’s strike of last year, in which, after an infinite amount of trouble and anxiety, the Act was vindicated to tlio extent that the offending strikers wore punished for their infringement of its provisions. So far as that particular incident in our industrial history was concerned, the result was fairly satisfactory, but the worst feature was the fooling cf insecurity that it left in regard to the efficacy of the Act to accomplish what it had formerly been supposed it could accomplish, namely, the prevention of strikes. Since that date there has been a very pronounced tendency on the part of a section of unionists to defy tlie legislation that at present stands upon the Statute Book. The recently-settled Blackball strike is, of course, the most glaring case,' but unfortunately it is only one of a few. Whereas prior to tlio slaughtermen’s dispute just referred to the question of a - strike was rarely hinted at, scarcely a week passes now but we have a rumor of some fresh additional one, and it is not too much to say that tlio threat of a strike is constantly being' hurled at the cm-j ployer who has the temerity to stand out against Union demands. All this is demoralising to industry, and it is therefore more necessary to-day than it lias ever been before that employers should *oo banded together ill the most effective organisation possible. The policy laid down by the New Zealand Employers’ Federation is ono that should ajipeal not only to employers seeking the protection of their own special interests, but also to any reasonable person. As Mr. Pryor explained to the very representative assembly which attended last night’s meeting, the object of the Federation is to ensure that labor legislation and its administration shall bo of such a naturo as shall be entirely fair to both employers and employees, so that industries can be profitably carried on for tho benefit of tlie community. Ho made it plain that there is not the slightest antagonism to Trades Unionism, which is recognised ns a necessary development ill our present social system. It was, lio declared, tlie aim of tho Advisory Board of the Federation to pursuo a policy of reasonableness and moderation, and to settle disputes wherever possible without having recourse to tlie Arbitration Court. At tho same time Mr. Pryor emphasised very strongly the point wo have made on many occasions when dealing with labor matters, namely, that it is the professional agitator, not tlio workman, who is responsible for such industrial disturbances as we are confronted with. On this point Mr. Pryor declared that Ills Federation was entirely opposed to tho principle that Trades Unionism could be placed in the hands of those whoso very existence depended upon their ability | to fomont industrial disputes. He added that his lengthy experience in these matters warranted him stating that when half a dozen good workman were got together in'conference with employers they could almost invariably arrive at a fair working arrangement which could bo accepted with profit to both sides. On tlie other hand, once the,, outside agitator was admitted it was, good-bye to conciliation,,. , An; important point made by ‘Mr. Pryor was the absolutely non-partisan character of the organisation from a political point of view. To quote his own words, “We have no side in politics.- Wo ■exist to assist Parliament by placing the employers’ position before the legislators in cases where industrial legislation is concerned.” In this respect Mr. Pryor was able to point to some excellent work “that lias been accomplished in tlie past by the Federation'. His address was chiefly conspicuous for the marked moderation of its tone, and the thorough grip the speaker showed with the present industrial affairs of the Dominion. There was no trace of bitterness towards Unionists/and even the muchmaligned Government inspector came in for some words of- sympathy. Employers’ Associations managed on tlie lines laid down by Air. Pryor should occupy a very necessary place in the community, and the local employers are to be congratulated upon tlie readiness with which they acceded to tlie request that they should form a local branch of the main organisation.