PREFERENCE TO UNIONISTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 180, 30 July 1903, Page 2

PREFERENCE TO UNIONISTS.

At the meeting of the Trades and Labour Couucii last mgut a resolution was earned to circulate a (petition in favour or compulsory preference to unionists lac following letter was iuso read from Mr (Jco. Fowms, M.H.K., giving a uefiuite statement ol ins views upon tne question of preference to unionists, it was in answer to a communication sent by the Council asking his views upon the matter: — "Wellington, July 25, 1003. Mr A. h. Iryyin, secretary Trades and Labour Council, Auckland. Dear Sir,'—Your letter of the Uth inst. reached me yesterday asking for a definition of my position regarding preference to unionists, i think it should be unnecessary for me to state that i am prepared to do everything in my power to assist the cause of the workers generally, as against the shirkers. As a i.ei)resentativ6 of the people it is my duty to take a wide survey of any proposal which uuects the rights of humanity- aud, therefore, in expressing my opinion that the passing of a law enacting compulsory preference -to unionists is undesirable, I do so on the grounds that serious injustice might 0e done to some, and because I fai 1 to see where the benefit could accrue to those who are to be preferred. I have iiiaae very considerable inquiry to see whether there is any large proportion of unionists unemployed in industries where non-unionists are employed, and 1 have failed altogether to tind there are many such cases, and that, in almost every case, the cause is not to be found In their being unionists, but from causes under their own control. 1 have given greater consideration to this question than to any other which has come before me since i entered public life, and I have considered it with a strong desire to be able to fall in with the views of those representatives of labour who have advocated it, because i give place to no one in my desire to benefit the workers, recognising that, under present circumstances, they do not receive anything like a fair share of the product of their labour, and it. was with considerable regret that I found it impossible to support the statutory enactment of preference to unionists. It seems to me the rule laid down by the Arbitration Court meets all the claims of justice, viz., that where a substantial majority of those employed in any industry belong to the union, In such cases they will give preference to unionists. 1 have endeavoured to elicit arguments from labour people that would warrant me in supporting the proposal, but so far have fal.ed. It contravenes my fundamental Dolitical principle wriiich i have proclaimed from every platform in Auckland, viz., that every human being has an equal right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. If it can be shown to me how compulsory preference muy dp enacted without contravening that fundamental principle, I am prepared to reconRiflp.c the matter, even if satisfied as 1 am that it cannot really improve '.he condition of those who ask for it. I am perfectly satisfied that the demand for a proposal of this kind 1h really injurious to the cause of the workers as a whole, and has provoked a spirit of antagonism which will retard other legislation that could have produced much better results, and in this opinion 1 am supported by most of those in the House who arc the recognised leaders of the Labour party. I should bo very glad, some time Mm* nfter the close of the present session, to have one. or more opportunities of going fully into the various phases of the labour question with your Council, and such a course onght to be helpful to Iv.th of us by enabling us to understand more clearly the view point of each other.—l am, etc., GEO. FOWLDS." The letter was leceived.