Industrial Problems.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16515, 6 May 1919, Page 6

Industrial Problems.

The suggestion in our leading article of yesterday that the Government might summon a conference to discuss the industrial problem in all its aspects has been supported by some leading business men, whoso views, together with those of well-known Labour representatives, we print in another column to-day. Mr George Booth is, apparently, not favourable to the idea of a conference; at least, ho profers not to express an opinion without further consideration, and he reminds us that "somo proposals look all right in thoory and prove very unsatisfactory in practice." .The idea underlying our suggestion is not a new oue; it is quito a long time since the Whitley Committoo furnished its first report, and set people thinking upon the possibility of bringing about a better understanding botween employers and workers. This, of course, is no reason against caution in expressing an opinion upon the holding of a conference in this country, but caution which is not based upon a clear understanding of possible dangers is apt to look a little like reluctance to face the facts. There is not in NewZealand such a degree of industrial unrest as that of which the appointment of the Whitley Committee, the holding of the great Conference in February, and the course of discussion and action in the intervening months, are in their different ways a recognition; but it must be manifest to overyone that the Arbitration Act is not far from the stage when it must be replaced. Those of us who dosire a conference are all, we should say, animated by a desire to get industry on a sounder footing, while the conditions for doing so, or attempting to do so, are still favourable. It is useless to take up the attitude that organised Labour must be kept at arm's length by the omployere. Extremists on the Labour side have been often enough, and very justly, condemned for their declaration, that the employer and tho employee are natural enemies; and those employers are just as blamoworthy who will have nothing to do with anything that will assist the two sides of industry to understand each other better. If the employers in other parts of New Zealand share the views of Messrs Jamieson and liedpath —and we can see no reason to suppose they do not—Sir James Allen should feel that the encouragement is sufficient for the taking of the first step towards the arrangement of a conference.