"TRUTH IN IT."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 282, 29 November 1938, Page 10

"TRUTH IN IT."

HASTY ACTION FIRST.

"COUNCIL HAS TO CLEAN UP."

"The dispute at Wcstfleld can only be ociil, but there is * lot of truth in vlmt your correspondent hws to nay," <i\ Id m prominent trade union official when consulted. "Invariably when a •trlke In mooted a decision is made on a show of httndn. There is nothing in the constitution of the Federation of Labour which demands that a secret ballot should be held. The only thing is that the federation, or rather the district council of that organisation, is supposed to step in if a dispute effects other organisations apart from tho workers where trouble has started, or alternatively, if it is invited by any affiliated organisation to carry on negotiations on Its behalf. The constitution stipulates that affiliations must refer « dispute to tho district council before definite action in taken, but that practice as a general rule hns not been adopted, and the council has not had a chance yet. The workers usually 'kick over the traces' and then ii«k tho council to clean up tho mom I don't for a moment think tlicro would have been Uie number of RtoppHfjPs in Auckland tnut there have been had the federation been consulted in the nr*t inatance. There have been hisos. of course, where strikes havo been Hio culmination of grievances working up to concert pitch over lonjf periods, but, oven there, tho federation mipht havo been nblo to handle tho situation peacefully by going dirt-ct to official* hud they boon given tho opportunity to do ho. '

It wm explained in other quartern' thnt not nil the blame for precipitate notion rented on the mon. for some industry wero controlled by overseas firms whrmo representatives were, inclined to Introduce. American and British methods into their works. There was often pinj»i Hkin«, which did not fit in with New /eiihind standards, and won absent from (•imlltir types of works controlled by Now Zenlnnd interests, who understood Iho New Zealand outlook and practices in Industry. There was nUo the question of tho pnrnhologlcnl moment for direct action to bo considered, and the trving nature of certain industries, which i ended to ninko men jump into disputes 't the sllahteet pretext.

Disputes Committees.

Nevertheless, there were ways of over

the«p problem*, by greater roli i nee on tho Fcdpration of I/altour, and

orhnpn, by #mpplying machinery in the ndustriiil. Conciliation and Arbitration \-'t for the speedier assembling of dirt iiitpd' committees. Harassing conditions n awards migbt also bo remorfd by a 'ccotiMtltutlon of tho Arbitration Court, with assessor* on either side being ilrnwn from the Industry concerned in ,i (ll«pnte, instead of being permanent ~.«<•«» mo r«. as nt. promt. Technical 'crnis find romph , * problem* were pprulinr to varloii" in<lii*t lit , -, and a iiidjj . Mini two permanent Auessors, with no

uftunl experience in tho industries, could tint l>o exported tu -_'he t!ie satisfaction Hint «n> desirc-d and would produce in-iln-triul li.nni'iiiy. "In iliiv anomalies u civ in prnrticnlly nil tho awardlier;iiisr thv |,e-( -\-ipm of arbitration h.'ld nof horn rvohVfl. Tlio need for ijnii-ker (iff ion by <li--I'lite.*' committee* wa« very npparent, it mus flalod. In imuiy iiw.-mU Iliere na.l<l ■■!•, i-i.m I'm- tl<n-n r> <!imi it t its. l>lll the limo nil.iM <.1 f<<i- tin in to -it wii* l.mjr. mid in -i-iiur ch-c- li|i f<l (Mo month.-. 11l Tii-uiiiil i»i-ii|>iii i<>n- tlsi." liiennt tli.it ..li~riiiiti'tlt v\ .Irs :ii!'Ui'<l t<< r,ii ry oil ftil" i\tf>lid"d |ir> iniN. FTiMH'n it u;i-. |i(l it it'll ■ l.i iI v in iiidn ■' ri>-« r>f (hi- n.it 111 >\ t lint I In , in• ii i!i < i'irii t<i ;ii ; tii -t iit ;i iii.'mciit ulicil tho % <'.|'!"vn •<■. iiuiM li-n-t iiffnrrl •i -'''I'l-.-i'..'i"< ii'id fiirri' a rmifiTi'iiri' after- - .nil-. \ll thr-o mnt I it.. - ■*; iliiT .'if - liiV of tin- iniiDi itti'f-. the -i\ in- nf 111..1 .■ p..« it t.i tlin I'rd.-I.lt ii>u <f I iil.i.iir. :ii..l 1',,. ~;,j-r.il ■ in ~f H--C-'- ■"!■-■ fi'iun I'." , !) industry t ikiirj ii »1 i — I>lll *- in tin' \i liitrntii.il ( mirth ere Ileitis f i !■'■ I\- ili-iu-r-ed ii ii ii i< m riri-li , *, it w,is iidd.-'.l. ,i:i<l ii v-:,. lii-iM-d (lint si,mo of I lii-iii wmild '"• in'.'ir|iiii*ntprl in tlio rniln.-lriiil ( ..ii. iii..!■,,.- , ni ,| Arl.it rut ton Act. if nni! tilii'M, die (!o\ ernmont derided In ntiieni , it.