A BITTER LESSON.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1275, 2 November 1911, Page 5

A BITTER LESSON.

AUCKLAND AND THE STRIKERSMENACE OF KUTJILESS COERCION. A COMMUNITY THROTTLED. (By Telesrraph.—SDecial Correspondent.! . Auckland, November J. Auckland has learned a bitter lesson, says the Mayor, Mr. C. J. Pnvr, who mad© some frank observations when interviewed on the conclusion of tho Drainage Board "sub-contracts" strike. "It was short and sharp," ho said, "and presented some peculiar, and I fear ugly, features. It was unique iu two resoects. Firstly, no attempt was made by the men at conciliation before striking. Secondly, it was the first time in the history of a New Zealand industrial conflict tfiat the area of a strike was extended so much beyond its origin in an attempt to coerce the wholo community into oomplianco with the strikers' demands. A trivial dispute between a contractor and his men at some drainage works, which could have been settled in halt an hour by the ordinary methods of discussion, and reasonable adjustment, was mad* the excuse and cause lor an attack upon every local body in Auckland. The wholo of Auckland's public works woro hung up. A more sinister proceeding still was tho pulling out by tho union of tho men connected with the city dptructor and the waterworks. . Tho plague was with us hst winter. No better way could have be-en devised for bringing it back than bv interfering with tho disposal of the city's refuse and insanitary rubbish. At the city waterworks man after man dropped his tools until it became a question whether the city and suburbs might not at any hour be left without water. It was a most anxious time for the city's* administrators.

Public Services Paralysed. "These, to my mind," proceeded Mr. Parr, "are tho worst incidents in this unfortunate business. Tho Drainage Board was to be forced into subjection by paralysing tho public services of tho city. Iho plan was simple and tho methods were novel m their frank rntlilcssnera. Ino leaders did not reckon on one or two things. The strike lasted longer than it should have done, and tho men, losing a week s wages, began to get out of hand ana impatient. The managers were uncomfortable. Other unions wisely caw that to precipitate a big conflict over so poor a cause would be a practical blunder, and were rather lukewarm in their sympathy. Lastly, public opinion ran strongly against the strikers. Tho community, instead of submitting, strongly resented the now methods introduced by M L*, ? om E le > an( l so tho strike was settled. I am quite satisfied with the terms of the agreement. Two outstanding features appear. One is that the dangerous demands o£ tho union to alter existing contracts _ huvo been defeated. Eleven contracts, involving an expenditure of ,£250,000 still retain the sub-con-tracting clause unaltered. The other notabo feature is that the board quito willingly conceded a clause in the two future contracts that trafficking or subcontracting in'' pick-and-shovel work should not be allowed. If tho union had asked tho board to do this a week ago. it would have been done, as tho union's request in this respect had. 1 think, a'good deal of reason behind it. The board loses absolutely nothing in recognising the principle already conceded in nearly every trade.

Strike Quits Unnecessary. All this could havo been arranged in half an hour—tho striko was quite unnecessary. Anything the union gained would have been freely granted without a striko at all. The lesson, of course, to bo learned from the wholo of the unhappy business, added the Mayor, "is that the worker gains nothing; indeed; even loses much, by precipitate and aggressive action. Nothing can bo lost by affording an opportunity for a full and candid discussion between employer and employee. Thero is ono final point," said Mr. Parr. "The City Council had had a bitter lesson. AYe learn that in an hour the whole of our public services can bo help up, and tho health and convenience o£ the citizens can bo jeopardised. I- think it will be the duty of tlio council, in the interests of tho citizens, to devise a measure which will prevent tho possibility of a few rash men being ablo to wreck tho whole civic trganisation."