LABOR COMPLAINTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2452, 17 March 1909, Page 6

LABOR COMPLAINTS.

DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER. (Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Mar 16. - A deputation from the Furniture Workers’ Union had a rather animated discussion with the Hon. A. W. Hogg. Minister for Labor. Mr Wilford, M.P., explained that the officers of the Labor Department took up the position that certain provisions of the furniture workers’ award were in conflict with the Factories’ Act, and must therefore be inoperative. The Union, however, held that the award was valid -and must be maintained. Complaint was made by the deputation that the D.I.C. discharged a non-unionist during slackness of work, and afterwards put the same man on again while unionists were out of work, and that the Department had declined to ask the Court for an interpretation of the award as to whether the man had been discharged, and the complaint was made that some country employers had been paying fortnightly ■instead cf weekly. The union thought a conviction for a breach of award should be obtained. Chief Inspector Lomas, however, had stated that his instructions were not to ask for less than a £TO fine, and as that would be too severe he could do, nothing beyond cautioning the employers, and the Minister, in reply, said he did not think there was much in the complaints. He did not- want to see small manufacturers and others unduly hampered in their efforts. In regard to the case of the non-unionist who was cent away for a few days owing to the slackness of woi'k, and then re-employed, lie. fancied that any humane employer having a man working for him would be doing a great wrong if he did not take li:m back when able to do so. The depuation told the Minister that if his ruling was right there would soon he no more unionists. The Minister said it was dangerous to rush to extremes. He deprecated attacks on factory inspectors who* were doing their duty. He strongly, urged the men to work in harmony with the employers. The Department was doing its best to help the unions, and he did not think they should seize every opportunity to drive employers before the Court. Capital and labor should work side by elide. The object of the Department was to protect both sides. As- an outcome of the interview the Minister promised to obtain the opinion of the‘Solicitor-General on the following questions: (1) How long does a nonunionist have to be out of employment before lie is deemed to be dismissed.? (2) If a non-unionist is dismissed can bis employer reinstate him instead of a unionist when there is a preference clause?