CAPITAL AND LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 48, 20 November 1917, Page 7

CAPITAL AND LABOUR

SCHEME TO IMPROVE RELATIONS

DISCUSSED BY INDUSTRIAL

ASSOCIATION

Some of the elements in the more 01 less constant quarrel between Capital anu Labour were discussed at tho meeting oi tho Wellington Industrial Association las. night. Tho matter was introduced by a paper read to tho meeting by Mr. L. T. Watkins, in which he dealt mostly with the need for the better training of apprentices, and tho need for cultivating a better spirit among tho workers uliicli should lead, theai lo place a higher valuG on good workmanship generally. • Mr. F. J. Evans presided. Present at the meeting in order to hear this paper were Professor Easterfield, Mr. H. A. Parkinson, Sir. W. S. La Trobo, and Mr. A. N. Burns, all interested in tho question as teachers. Mr. Watkins 6poko first of the permanent feud between Capital and Labour, who, he said, should bo allies in industry and not enemies. He considered that in this struggle the draftsman was losing ground, by comparison, with tho unskilled worker. Although wages had increased, it was very difficult to get youths to enter trades. In older days, he said, the master was himself a craftsman, working with his men, and relationships, were friendly. Now by ovolution tub shop had become the factory, and the master was no longer known by his men. He was assailed as "Capital" by united Labour. In order to get back some measure of the old relationship he made ono |or two practical suggestions. His first proposal was that the association shoulu I issue invitations to an equal number 01 trades unions and employers' unions with a view to founding and carrying on an arts and crafts guild in Wellington. - He suggested that the executive of the guild should consist of an equal number oi members of employers' and employees anions, and such representatives of scientific and primary education as the guild should invite to act. The chief functions of the guild would be the fostering of high ideals of citizenship in regard to the value of performance in art and industry, more especially in the supervision of (pprentices and apprenticeship. He e\*en suggested that soma of the old ceremonial as practised by City of London Guilds in the indenturing of apprentices in meeting of the. guild, and in granting the 'rights of Froemon of the city to men who had completed a satislactory period of apprenticeship and becoming efficient tradesmen should be adopted. He suggested as « proviso that the guild should not have power to deal with any matters coming within the jurisdiction of th 6 Arbitration Court.

In the course of subsequent discussion,

Professor Easterfield said that it was of the greatest importance to tho Empire that the difference.? between Capital and Labour, differences wore working great harm t? the Empire, should be minimised. The suggestion that such a body as that proposed should be constituted had interested him, but he would have to examino it carefully before giving an opinion upon it. Ho had not had tho personal experience of dealing with apprentices that every member of tli6 association had had. Mr. W. S. La Trobe said thai tho idea of a guild representing both Capital ami Labour had been in operation in th 6 control of certain industrial classes a<. the Technical Schools, where there had been Boards of Control representing workers and employers to prescribe courses of work and to grant certificates to students. He agreed that the presonl factory system was destructive of the ok. spirit of craftsmanship among workers, and ho thought that 'the first essential to better agreement between Capital am. Labour must be the revival among tli6 workers themselves of something of thb old craftsmen's spirit. He suggested also that the consumer might have to bo educated to some extent to appreciate and I value good handiwork, as distinct from machino work. Mr. H. A. Parkinson and Mr. A. NV Burns both complimonted Mr. Watkins on his paper. Their remarks had some reference to tho technical or vocationaj training of youths. Mr. It. G. Denton said that one of the obstacles to 6uch a scheme as that proposed was the limitation of the numboi of apprentices. Under the present system it would not be possible to absorb many apprentices even if thoy wer6 available. Mr. C. J. Ward discussed at soni6 length, *nd with some knowledge, the decay of the apprenticeship system. He thought that the factory system shoule bo "humanised/' and that moro should be done to make apprentices good craftsmen, and also that more shouJd bo done to make their work less unpleasant. Some factory conditions in New Zealand were simply a disgrace. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Watkins for his paper. It was agreed that consideration of the proposals mado by Mr. Watkins should bo held over until next meeting of the association.