EMPLOYERS’ FEDERATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2198, 23 May 1908, Page 3

EMPLOYERS’ FEDERATION.

LOCAL BRANCH FORMED. Upwards of fifty representatives of the leading business firms of Gisbonio assembled at the Farmers’ Club rooms, Masonic Hotel, last evening, when Air. AA T , I’ryor, secretary of tho Employers’ Federation of Now Zealand, delivered an address with tlio object of forming a branch of tho Federation in this district. Air. C. A. DoLnutour was voted to the chair, and stated that tho largo attendance proved that employers took a keen interest in the matters about to be brought before them by the representative of tho Employers’ Federation. Mr. Pryor’s object that evening was to place beforo thorn what was being (lone in other places by tho Federation of Employers. Tho workers woro tho first to organise, and the employer had been dilatory in learning tho lesson that union was strength. Ho had pleasuro in calling upon Mr. Pryor to address them.

Air. Pryor said that his purpose that evening was to endeavor to persuade employers of labor in Gisborne to affiliate with tho Employers’ Federation.' He detailed at length the growth of tlio Federation, which was first formed in 1890, at the time of tho great maritime strike. The weakness on tho part of employers in tho past Avas that thero was no cohesion amongst them. In making representations to Parliament, they frequently had three different representations on tho one subject. Tho workers made no such mista’ko, but were unanimous in all they aimed at. However, tlio growth of tho Employers’ Federation had changed this stato of affairs, and lately tho representations made by tho Federation had received a groat deal of consideration, whereas formerly tho Government did not know what they wanted, owing to tlioir want of unanimity on important matters affecting their interests. At tho present time tho Employers’ Federation had over 1000 members in Otago, about 700 in Canterbury, wliilo AVollingtoit and Auckland had about the same number each. He was not asking them to join a weak combination, but the strongest confederation the employers of the Dominion had ever formed. As showing the bonofits of the organisation, in past years legislation had been placed on the Statute .Book which would never have been passed had there been a federation of employers. During the last three years, he was pleased to state, no measures inimical to the interests of employers had been put through by Parliament, with the exception of some pernicious clauses which had been hastily rushed through in the dying hours of the last session. The federation of emnloyers belonged to no political party.' Situated as they were, with leaseholders and freeholders, freetraders and protectionists, in their ranks, it would he suicidal to take up party politics. Tlio object of the Federation was to look after, the in-

terests of employers only, and get the most that they could from whichever party was in power. Tho Federation was not opposed to trades unionism, but what It was opposed to was that trades unionism should allow itself to he placed in the hands of those gentlemen whose very existence depended on tho fomenting of trouble between the employers and workers. The abuse of trades unionism was the cause of nine-tenths of the trouble arising to-day. Alen calling themselves Socialists went among the workers with tlio avowed intention of causing trouble between employer and worker. Such disputes as the Blackball and Auckland tramway strikes had been undoubtedly manufactured by agitators. He was convinced that half-a-dozen decent workers and tho same number, of employers could arrange a working agreemerit which would work smoothly throughout the .years. But while those gentlemen whom it paid to foment disputes controlled trades unionism it was a case of good-bye to all chance of agreement. . -By seeing that their representatives were returned to Parliament, the workers had taught the employers the value of organisation. _ If they decided to form an association ill Bisborne, every place in New Zealand where it was at present necessary to have a branch would have a federation to safeguard the interests of employers. After referring to the anomalies in the Industrial Arbitration and Conciliation Actj the speaker went on to the question of Socialism which lie contended should he "rappled with now, unless they wanted to be saddled with the three-party system as in the Commonwealth o. Australia. Air. Pryor concluded a capital address by a strong appeal to the employers to shake off the apathy which'had retarded them in the past, and to strengthen the hands of the employers by forming a branch of the.Employers’ Federation in iGsborne, and affiliating with the New Zealand Federation. Air. H. G. AVarren, secretary tor Messrs Nelson Bros., who is a member of the executive of the Hawke’s Bay Association, spoke strongly m favor of the amalgamation of employers. He advised the- meeting to appoint an -energetic secretary, and to back linn up. He moved: “That an association be formed, to bo called the lovorty Bay Employers’ Federation, and to affiliate with the New Zealand Federation.” , , A ~ , Air. C. Taylor seconded the motion, and complained of the harassing attentions of the Labor Department s inspectors. . The motion was carried unanimous-

The Chairman suggested that they should enroll the names of members that evening, as it -was improbable that they would get a more representative gathering. Representatives of the following firms handed in their names for membership Gisborne Sheepfarmers’ Frozen Meat to., Tit*},. Clayton Bros., W. J. Cox and Co . J. D. Tustin, W. A. O’Meara, J. D. Niven and Co., Oxenham and Beattie, Westport Coal Co., Gisborne Times, Evans, Niehl and Co., Haisman and iSon, David Morrison,, \\ ade and Gray, Redstone and Sons, CoOperative Supply Association, Cox Pros., lies (tailor). Poverty Bay Herald, G. A. Holmes, Lynda Soap and Trading Co., W. Morgan, Teat and Friar, Common, Shelton and to., Ltd., Williams and Kettle, Ltd., Dal-L-ctv and Co.. Ltd., C. /Taylor, Nelson" Bros., Ltd., -Shier]aw and Co., U.SiS. Co., Ltd., -Builders’ Union, C E. Olding, Grundy and Slieiman, F. Hall and Sons, C. Peach, J. Tow- * Mr. W. F. Cederwall moved, and yir. lies seconded, that the following provisional committee be appointed as representing the various interests:—W. J. W. Preston, representing the shipping companies; k . Hall, jtinr. (painters); iShierlaw (tailors) ; G. Smith (builders); Geo- Evans (timber merchants); W. Morgan (saddlers); J. B. Kells (merchants); A. Dewing (freezing companies); J. Leydon -(coach-builders); D. Dustin (bakers); J. Maynard (butchers); W. J. Cox (grocers); and W. F. Cederwal (lightering firms). Mr. George Evans was annointed convener. Tho Chairman moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Pryor for his able address, and the meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman for presiding.