AUSTRALIAN FEDERATIONISTS SYMPATHETIC.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14821, 12 November 1913, Page 11

AUSTRALIAN FEDERATIONISTS SYMPATHETIC.

(By Cable.—Preee As*ociation—Copyright) SYDNEY, November 11.

The secretary of the recently-formed Federation of Labour of Australasia, which has its headquarters in Sydney, says the executive has expressed a definite opinion that the Arbitration Unionists working the New Zealand wharves are "blacklegs," and simply tools of the employers, and in nowiso are representative of unionists proper, or the representatives at all of the old unionists. They had seen in the past bogus forces of this kind used, and in no instance were, they anything but against the interests or the working class. He has cabled to the strikers, wishing them success, and asking that they keep him in touch with the proceedings, and has written to affiliated unions for financial support. At a meeting of the Western District Labour Council, held at Lithgow,_ sympathy was esDressed with the strikers, and it was decided to write wishing them success.

COALING OF STEAMERS

(By Cable.—Preas Association—Copyright.) (Received November 11th, 11.35 p-m.) SYDNEY, November 11. So far Netv Zealand steamers havo had no difficulty in obtaining coal at Newcastle, but it is understood that in the event of any attempt being made to handle non-union cargo tne wharfmen, and probably the miners, are fully prepared to act.

THE MAYOR'S ATTITUDE.

TO Tirr. EDITOR Or "THE TRESS." Sir, On the question of the appointment of "specials" various rumours were afloat in Christchurch on Satur-

day. and I rang up the Mayor to find out what the real position was. lie replied quite frankly, stating his attitude on the question, and <;:ive no hint that he- did not desire his views published.

A reporter who was present in tho room thought the matter of sufficient interest to publish in his newspaper, and I have heard citizens of all shades ot political opinion commending thy attitude of the Mayor as represented in the report. 1' am surprised to learn that the Mayor objects to iho publicity given u> his statements, and thinks that he has been misrepresented. 1 notice that your newspaper reports him as saying to your reporter regarding "'special , . , constables, that "so far no occasion has arisen to warrant any interference."- Or.c reason for my thinking that tho Mayor's statement was not private was that he had made a much mure emphatic statement on the samo lines to another mombor of tho Council.

One. other point, the Mayor doos mc too much honour in stating that I am chairman of the Striko Committee.— lours, etc.,

J. McCOMBS. f"\Y o liayo omitted somo lengthy observations by our correspondent on the strike generally. Wo print all his references to tho broach of faith with wiiich lie is charged. The misrepresentation of ilie Mayor's plain statement he floes not touch upon.—Ed. "The Press."!

OUR COUNTRY'S INDEMNITY

TO THE EDITOR OF "TUB FRESa.' , Sir, —The present crisis is of great concern to every loyal New Zealander, and any intelligent suggestion that will be of help to. prevent (strikes in tho future should bo carefully considered. The effect the prolongation of the present strike will have on industrial matters is obvious. Labour will certainly demonstrate its power by showing how indispensable it is to industries, but the price to enforce the lesson will be very costly. To continue tho strike for three months would place the Dominion and its peoplo in bankruptcy. .Most of our commercial lif« is dependent on the oven tenor of business from day to day. The suspension of returns will mean bankruptcy. Tho strike precipitates suspension. Business returns aro non est. Bills have to be mot or renewed. Tho- retailor fails and the merchant who depends on him also fails, whilo tho banks will suffer from the merchant. Importations will coaso; customs duties diminish; revenue in every State undertaking will be curtailed: tho Government cannot meet its obligations, and the result is terrible to contemplate. While tho present trouble is on, and an amicable settlement will no doubt eventuate, what is to bo done to avoid repetition of such calamities in tho future? It is not enough to settle strikes, we must avoid them. The loss they entail is top great for a young country liko ours to meet. Government will not only have to use its powers to settle the present crisis, but avert a similar occurrence in the future. My suggestion is to make It compulsory for all employers in New Zealand to establish ■ superannuation funds on nehalf of employees, livery employee must by law set aside a percentage of his earnings to bo paid by tho employer into a Government Trust Fund. An employee fihall have the right to leave his employer by giving tho required notice when any monies paid into tho indemnity fund shall be paid him with any interest that may be allowed. But in the event of a strike which shall bo deemed unlawful the whole of the monies to be forfeited and becomo the property of tho State. Such a scheme should be practicable and effectually, obviate tho dislocation of industries and tho tremendous loss occasioned through strikes. Presumably tho railway Mtrvants could not or would not go out on striko because it might mean the forfeiture of all their superannuation monies. If such a procedure prevents a strike among them why should it not becomo general? Such a scheme would encourage thrift and after a year's working tho accumulation of funds would be so great that employees' would not strike and 'lose their savings. Every year would strengthen tho position and serve to bring employer and employee into common touch with each other. Tho adjustment of wages and hours would bo settled by an adjustment court, and justice would be extended to both employer and employee. The Arbitration Act will never become effectual in preventing strikes as fines imposed will not be paid, and if imprisonment is resorted to the country will havo to provide for the wives and families of those convicted. The indemnity I suggest vill mean that it is an unlawful act to strike, while funds will be forfeited and the country recompensed for its loss. "While an employee commits no breach of the law tho money in trust in his account would always bo his and accessible when required. Such a fund should bear the highest rate of interest to encourage the worker, and the only condition of tho forfeiture would be by acceding to a etrike. I make the foregoing simply as a suggestion. It may appear inoperative m its conclusions, but worthy of consideration. A solid union of every employee in the Dominion would rapidly bring the scheme into operation, and 80 give some protection against a roBonrce that is .irreparable in its effects, -yours, etc, j. R MERRETT . St. Albans, November 10th, 1913.

A RED FED. SETTLEMENT.

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE PBESB." Sir, —I venture to suggest a method by which the present (and all similar) troubles might be remedied. Let the Government set aside, purchasing, if necessary, from the present owners, a suitable block of good land, not too near a railway station, and place as settlers thereon all anti-arbi-trationists, anti-militarists, anti-Bible-in-Schoolists, anti-vaccinationists, in short, anti-anything. Let that bo tho sole qualification for a title to a sufficient allotment on which to make a living for a man, and if necessary a family. Next appoint a provisional governing body, consisting of Messrs Tregear, Somple, Young, "Comrade" Cookeand "Professor" Mills, the ethics of the community to bo supervised by the Revs. Money and Mortimer. Tho hated capitalist must, of course, be rigidly excluded; in fact, I would make it a disqualification for any member to possess any funds, either saved or inherited. There should be unrestricted right to work and also a 1 emulation that every member of the community should be paid a living wage whether he works or not. There are some minor details to bo worked out in connexion with the scheme, as, for instance, the funds from which wages are to be paid, but this conld probably be met with tho help of a printing press and a good supply of tough hand-made paper, and with this in view I would suggest the addition of Mr Newlyn to the governing body.— Yours, etc.,

A DRASTIC SUGGESTION.

TO THE EDITOR o*' "TUB POESS " Sir, —Whilst giving every credit to yourself and others for your most laudable attempts to bring about a settlement of the present strike by conference of both parties to the dispute, all previous experience leads mc to conclude that all such methods will be futile until a more logical basis of reasoning is adopted- What are the leading facts i The Federation of Labour claim that they can themselves, and demand of others affiliated to them, stop work regardless of the consequences to the community. Every sane person will admit that all individually have the ripht to say for whom h© or she will or will not work. This theory may be admitted when applied individually, but when applied collectively by a large section of the people against the rest of tho community, it is open to serious

question. If. however, we admit the principle that ono large section of tho community can by united action interfere with the rights and liberty of a much larger section *jf the people tn:ui themselves, then it follows that those suficrinj; from their conduct in oiVrt to protect themselves mar adopt such measures as seems best adapted to accomplish the end in view. I submit that the Empiovers' Federation have the right ana t"he power to end this strike by the only effoctivo means to secure peace and liberty to thow willin ir, to pay the price for it. nalnely, for all employers affiliated to the Employers' Federation to discharge all hands till the strike is declared off. Tins measure, though brinpinc; still more suffering than r.t present exists, will brills the trouble to a bend more quickly, and disclose the strength of the opposing forces, nnd instead of living in a fool's paradise whilst our very existence as a free nnd happy land is threatened by revolutionaries who wish first to usurp and then destroy the first principles and ennons of liberty and good government.—Yours, etc., LOGIC.

CLERGYMEN AND THE STRIKE.

TO THE KDITOB Of '"THE rBESS." Sir,—There is an aspect of the strike which I have been expecting some more able pen than mine would deal with. It is indeed of such permanent and vit-al importance that I feel sure your readers would like to see yon deal with it. I refer to tln> action taken in tho matter by three ministers of religion at tho strikers' meeting last Tuesday at I.yttelton. Messrs tho Revs. Money, Mortimer, and Hnckward urged them to remain on strike till they won, as they were rightly fighting for their liberty*! Now, these rev. gentleman must have known that the very men they were speaking to were what the old Book calls covenant-breakers; also that they had defied and wero defying the law of the land by forcibly preventing goods being shi]*ped at the wharf. How can we understand teachers of religion openly approving immor.il and lawless conduct? We used to be taught that morality was supreme, but these gentlemen evidently do not think so. Tho strike will end in time, somo way or the other, but these gentlemen will find it somowhat difficult in future to teach morality after having openly come dangerously near approving crime.—Yours, etc., OBSERVER.

LAW AND ORDER.

TO THE KDITOn OF "THE PRESS." Sir, — Otir common-sense revolts against Mr Atkinson's logic, and I think I can supply tho answer to it. "Free labour" clouds tho issuo, which is simply this; no agent, or set of agentSj can lawfully overrido tho will of their principals. In external trade the waterside workers act as agents for four sots of principals—tho English, importer and exporter and tho 2sew Zealand importer and exporter. If those principal* decide to dispense with their usual agents they are fully entitled to do so, and liko all visiting foreigners and citizens can rightfully claim the protection of the Government"; that is, Parliament. Under our laws tho farmer sells choose and the manufacturer sells rugs to tho Englishman, while the merchant buys from the Englishman -what ho requires, say, Eianos. If his customary agents fail im from whatever cause, that farmer, that manufacturer, that merchant, has an inherent right to travel unmolested over the King's highway to tho water's edge to put on board that cheese, or those rugs, or to receive those pianos. If that right bo denied , , the Government has cravenly resigned, its duty of governing, and has surrendered to mob rule, or rather it nas ceased to rule —that is, government has given way to anarchy. To prevent anarchy and tho horror of Napoleon's "Whiff of Grape Shot," it is the duty of every citizen, who believes in, government to allow himself to bo enrolled as a constable .to aid in tho prosevation of government. To got over such arguments as these, Mr Webb, M.P., has been driven to describe, tho pick and flower of New Zealand as "bushrangers." I on the contrary desire to testify to tho courage and patriotism of men, who. at great personal risk, have shown the cool courage of veteran soldiers. That, to conciliate public opinion—to my mind an unsound public opinion—these law-abiding farmers are complying with certain forms of union-making is really beside tho question. Lawfully did these gallant men ride down to Wellington wharf to load up their produce, either with their own hands, or through new agents,. ?"ust as they preferred. And if Welington could 1 not, as was its duty, dofend them from law-breakers, they were quite right—and the thanks of tho whole community is due to them —in getting themselves enrolled into a police force ready to combat the forces of sedition, and to save us from the inevitable consequence of sedition, if persisted in—rebellion and civil war— and the ruin of the country.—Yours, etc., G. M. BUTTERWORTH.

LABOUR TRUST METHODS.

TO THE KDITOH OP "THE PEESS." Sir, —I am surprised that the principles involved in tho present strike situation have not been commented on and discussed by students of social economy and others. In the past, •when employer and employee fell out, they parted* company, and any seJfrespecting workman would consider it beneath his dignity to stand at the front gate and assault and abuse-would-bo applicants for the vacant position. Nor would ho be allowed to do so by law. But organised Labour apparently has no euch sense of dignity. The Federation of Labour is seemingly more of the nature of the much abused trusts and combines. These latter are able to plead reduced manufacturing and selling costs, and by lessening duplication of plant, pose as public benefactors, but unionists are animated by purely selfish motives regardless of the suffering a.nd loss they may occasion innocent people. Therefore if they are worth their wage and were not satisfied with tho conditions under which they -work the best thing to do would be to drop out and look for a place where they would be appreciated, instead of playing dog-in-the-manger and worse. Or, if they consider the employer never gives thorn a fair deal, why do they not start out on their own? Surely anti-Federa-tion legislation is more needed than anti-trust legislation, and fair competition in labour should be uphold as well as fair competition in business. So should a man be free to sell his la tour for what he chooses as well as his coods. —Yours, etc.. SEL7-RELIANT. November 10th.