THE PERIL OF TRADE UNIONISM

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3188, 12 September 1917, Page 5

THE PERIL OF TRADE UNIONISM

STRONG SPEECH BY NEW SOUTH WALES MINISTER . WAR ON THE AGITATOR

Mr. -G. S. Beeby, New South Wales Minister of Labour and Industry, speaking at the "loyal labour" oanrp on the Sydney Crickat Ground recently, made an important statement regarding, tho Government's policy in regard to arbitration.

"Get it our of your minds at once," ho said, "that this fs merely a trial of strength between- 'the Government and a few unionists, or that tho Government is worrying about its dignity, or is concerned about winning this strike because it IB run by its political opponents. A Government actuated by petty considerations of this kind would not be fit to hold office for another day. But we take our stand with full knowledge of what has v been going on in this country during tlu> last two or three yeara, with a full knowledge of tho growing power of extremists in the inner councils of unionism, and with the sole desire to get unionists baok to some method of intelligently controlling their affairs. Out of this struggle we believe a better ordering of conditions will come. £ very large percentage of tho men on strike are. beginning to realise what tho extremists have led them into. They are sorry they are out to-day; they _ know they aro \wrong. (A voice: Traitors!) Union government has been a travesty on democracy. The right of eyery unionist to a say in the management of his affairs has beon gradually taken away by loud-mouthed 'Johnny-come-latelys,' whose, avowed aim' has been to prevent the orderly consideration of industrial disputes by arbitration. (A voice: Parasites!) They have succeeded in tearing up tho charter of unionism—the right of/ every man in the union to be consulted on every important question. (Cheers.) Tho old- system of balloting on crises has been pushed in the background. In spite of union rules, organisations comprising thousands of men aro suddenly thrown into a strike. Tliey do not Snow why. They are not askpd to determine whether there is any reason. behind their action; they are simply ordered to drop tools, with threats of ostracism if they don't respond. This strike will, I firmly believe, lead to a cleaning-up in- all big unions, (Cheers.) The intelligent workmen must in future realise that the union is his union, and that government is his concern. I havo known cases of matters absolutely vital to unionists being airily disposed of without a ballot by a meeting of less than 300 men representing an l organisation of thousands. "The Perpetual Strike." "So long as unionism is Tun in this way it will.meet with disaster. I have been singled out particularly in this contest as the aroh-enemy of unionism. (A 'voice: Declared black!) And.why? Only because I have always urged l that ut'.onism should be run oh intelligent and democratic lines, and that the perpetual strike in the face of arbitration laws passed- at tho Tequest of unionism must cease. Given- a guarantee of intelligent control and rigid adherence to union rules, 1 1 myself to-morrow would grant much wider powers and privileges to unionists than they have to-day. But once unionism attempts to place in power an autocracy of its own there is no alternative but for the people to meet it with every collective device which oan be evolved. '"When I looked at this great audience I realised that nine-tenths of you "are working men. Outside r hese gates there are tens of thousands of working jnen who are heartily sick of the whole business, who know they have been led to an impasse, who know that the Government is right in its attitudo, and yet who, through a perverted sense ot loyalty, aro just-drifting along till the Strike Committee graciously tells them thev may go back to work.- Ihesc inen wilt wake up directly, and will begin to understand better what loyalty really means. They have for the time being reversed the proper order of things, lney put loyalty to the union before loyalty to their own families and to the State. (Cheers.) We want to get this distorted conception of loyalty straightened out. We want a reassertion of the old-fashion-ed rule of loyalty, first to tho State, then to the family, and alter, that to the union. Some men are stall "rnvMo on the street corners that I want to break unionism. Ton can't break union. i*m. .Throughout Australia the full and free right of workmen to combine lor their own protection, for their own advancement', is established. \ oil can alter your laws, and _by educational methods bring about intelligent management of unions: '

The Need for Co-operation. "We can and mu6t reorganise the industrial world on rational lines, and prevent a small supreme council of unionists attempting • to usurp tho functions of Government XiJiions, tor instance, - should definitely insist that on all important matters, particularly those which may involve a stoppage of work, some reasonable notice snould DO given to the Department of Labour and Industry, in order to allow full discussion of matters favoireci. Provision should exist for the taking of .ballots o members on important issues after lull <>jvcuHtHoi;. I am satisfied from my owij experience that lit every union would give to the proper authorities ten days notice of serious trouble, allow t»e authorities to assist in proper disSbssion and investigation, and then use tlie setret ballot, nine-tenths of the strikes that occur now would be avoided. -But it does not suit the extremists at present to allow intelligent discussion of grievances. (Hear, hear.) His purpose is to cause violent and unreasonable stoppages of work. To beat th& extremist the' ia,w must be amended in such a way as to guarautee to the great body of unionist tfin full rieht of reasonable discusSon of eve.7 important matter affecting their trades. I have for a long time been of opinion that you cannot prevent strikes by 'legislation; buo you can by proper co-operation between unions and the Industrial Department prevent those hasty aud ill-considered actions which, particularly (luting the last few .jcars, have involved community in heavy losses, and brought discredit. _on the whole of Australia. (Cheers.) ,It is m these directions that' the Government proposes to move in the inture. Le oislatioii of this kind will not touch any of tho rights of unionists, but it will help unionists to act intelligently and after due deliberation, and with a lull sense of tho consequences of their ac*l "We have in Australia reached a partinij of the ways. This strike is a test of national solidarity. If we can survive, and in the cleaning up get the Rood, loyal, sane unionist back into the control of his own affairs, all will be well. But if the revolutionary and extreme element succeeds in filially establishing control of industrialism, then there is a long period of poverty and misery in front of all of us.