The DOminion. FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1908. THE OBLIGATIONS OF LABOUR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 151, 20 March 1908, Page 6

The DOminion. FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1908. THE OBLIGATIONS OF LABOUR.

In the present condition of _ wide- : spread industrialunrest and disturbance in New; South Wales anything which indicates the presence of a sense of justice and'fair play is to be heartily ! welcomed. No little satisfaction, therefore, will be felt at to-day's news concerning the attitude of the New South Wales Miners' •, Federation towards the sectional strikes which are tying up the coal industry in the State; Fresh strikes have occurred in some of the collieries, and as a 'result, the Federation has decided, to quote the cable- message, "to adopt more stern methods of dealing with these hasty ill-advised strikes on the part of various, sections of, the colliery workers, and'has adopted a resolution calling on the strikers to resume work immediately; failing this; to be expelled." The Federation is also calling upon the lodges concerned to use every effort to keep the pits going, and it expresses the opinion "that the time has arrived when each lodge should realise its responsibility, and force its members to keep within'the constitution of the Federation." This action of the Federation is strikingly in contrast with the attitude of some of the Labour organisations towards the Blackball strike, and by as much as the New South Wales body rises in public esteem, by so much will these organisations fall into public disfavour. So long as organised Labour is fighting fairly for what it considers proper conditions and adequate pay, it .will receive a fair and friendly hearing, but when its militant energy is mere faction and wantonness, it can only make enemies of all just men. _ The New South Wales Federation has done itself infinite good by its enunciation Of the principle that organised Labour has its responsibilities as well as its privileges.' Its action is due in great measure to a remarkable statement by Judge Heydon, president of-the Eoyal Commission now investigating the mining problem in New South Wales, i The Commission had given in camcra protection to the evidence-of some of the omployer witnesses, and this was strongly resented by several of the miners' lodges. .The Federation also took up its stand against the hearing of evidence " in camera," and matters became so critical that the Judge felt called upon to make a lengthy statement of the situation. His chief concern was to persuade the Federation, which he had noticed bad shown an admirable disposition towards reasonableness, that the interests of the men would not suffer from the hearing of certain evidence (relating to profits, etc.) in camcra: In the course of his statement lie made this urgent appeal to the Federation:—

"What moral right have tho moil to withdraw merely bcc.iuso thoy do not liko certain evidence being taken, in privato? I appeal to them as honourable men. Thoy are under 110 compulsion, They aro only bound, in honour, but is not that the strongest of all ties to an honest man? When the parties made this agreemout tliuv shook lianas aud

said, 'Wo will ask no securities from ono anothor, and wo only pledge our mutual word as honest men, and as honest men we will keep it.' Arc pledges like these to bo fishtly cast asido? What will the community, what will oven the miners' fellow-workers, think of them ? They, as we know, value the presont Act, and,iro preparing to fight for its continuance. Wo aro all familiar wit'i tho argument that industrial arbitration is no good, because the men will bo bound neither by law nor honour, neither by penalties nor pledges. How can this argument bo answerod if the Newcastle miners now broak this agreement?" The Federation lias evidently profited by this appeal to its best feelings, and its appearance oil the side of fair play will have a powerful moral effect upon the men and upon the public. If our own Labour Councils would take up a similar attitude, anS- sternly discountenance wanton unfairness amongst the Unions,they would not be giving anything away, dud tliey would do far more for those whose interests they are designed to serve than can be done by an attitude of irreconcilable bitterness. In Australia it is in the governing body that we have to look for the reasonableness that is absent from the lodges. The disfavour with which, 'according to the latest news from Grreymoutli, the miners outside Blackball look upon the tactics of the agitators shows that the position is in a measure reversed in New Zealand, and that it is a,mongst the individual workers that one must look for the fair play and, orderliness that are wanting in some of our Trades Councils. If Labour in New Zealand desires not to alienate public sympathy, it must' evince. a sense of the obligations which are placed upon it by the privileges given to it in the' laws. ' )"