NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 123, 17 February 1921, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY

A return of trade disputes published reeentlv bv the London “Morning Post” effectively emphasises the extent to which’ the evils of unemployment now rampant in Great Britain are accounted toe by an unending series of strikes. The return covers a period of two years, from December, 1918. to November. 1920. inclusive, and shows that in this period there were, in the United Kingdom 3978 -strikes, involving in all 5,830,650 workpeople and an aggregate loss of 61,483.000 working days. Thia suicidal strangulation of industry of course bears to unemployment the relation of cause to effect, .Some of the strikes arose over Questions of wages and hours, some over very trivial grievances. but even an advocate of direct action would not venture to assert that they extorted concessions in any appreciable degree offsetting the enormous loss and terrible disorganisation of industry they occasioned in their direct and indirect effects. It is impossible io compute in money the cost of theses thousands of strikes. The immediate loss in wages and in other ways is ro. latively a email matter in comparison with the all-round lowering of indus. trial efficiency which results from continual stoppages and the atmosphere of uncertainty and insecurity they create. It is sufficiently obvious in Britain that it rests with organised Labour to take the first great step towaids remedying and averting unemployment by reversing its own accepted policy. In this country the results of strikes and the variant of “irritation tactics” of course differ only in degree and not) in kind from those which are now brine' experienced in Great Britain.

It cannot be said that the Government scheme to assist those in difficulty with their income tax payments has proved an attractive one. . The situation is recognised to be exceptional, and it is in the interests of the community generally I'hat such relief na it may be possible to give should be given. There has been a heavy drain on big income tax payers under the compulsory loan, and many business people find the financing of their (affairs difficult just now owing to unexpectedly heavy consignments of good« arriving from overseas and the general restriction of credit. Why should nob the Government simplify matters by accepting payment of one-half the amount payable at due date and the Imlanco .in six months with interest at the ruling bank rate added? There should bo a surplus at the end of March of something xivcr three mulTons, and this represents about one-half the income tax due. It should no 1 .! seriously embarrass the Government to stand out of this money for •he period staled, especially in view of the fact that it would be earning good interest.

The question of exemptions from the immigration law which is now in force in this country seems likely to give rise In somewhat serious practical difficulties. When the measure was before Parliament lest year it wns intimated that certain countries would be exempted from the- provision under which intending nonBritish immigrants are required to make prior application in writing before leaving their own country, and at Christchurch on Friday evening Mg. Massey inentioneil the United States and-Fiance os tvpical examples pf countries to which exemption would properly be extended. Some safeguards are evidently necessary, however. Unless the exemp.tion to any foreign country is specifically limited to people of white race, more or less difficult questions may arise in regard to the admission of persons of mixed blood. Special precautions aiming at the exclusion of undesirables are also called for where immigration from foreign countries is Concerned. The provision that immigrants must take an oath of allegiance or undertake to respect the laws of the Dominion is nqt a complete safeguard, and exemptions might not to be extended to anv country except under conditions that will enable the Dominion Government 'to ascertain with reasonable certitude that it is securing desirable additions to the population.

A "go-slow” policy at the Burnside freezing works is reported to-day. This means that right in the busiest part of the season, when it is desirable to make the most of the opportunity for killing the fat stock available to restore the balance of trade in our overseas markets, there is a slackening of effort. It is a stupid piece of business, for it is not only prejudicial to the proprietors o£ the freezing works and to the men themeelves, but to the whole country. The reason given for the "go-slow” movement is that the company has refused to dismiss a man to whose employment the union took exception. We hear a good deal about victimisation on the part of employers, but what sort of victimisation is it on the part of a body of men who would deprive a fellow worker of the means of earning a living? It would Be interesting to know the facts of this case.