Unions and Unemployment

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 20, 18 October 1930, Page 22

Unions and Unemployment

Sir, —There are over 400 trades unions in the Dominion, with a membership of a little over 100,000. As a large section of the community is about to be called upon to support the unemployed, the public .have a right to know what is going on inside these unions—such as the payments to union officials, the amount subscribed by members, and how this money is disposed of. There is after all only a certain amount of money which can be spent on labour: if one section of labour works out at too great an expense, such as too high wages, working too slowly, or too short hours, then the rest have to suffer for it. And tljis is what is now taking place. Trade union secretaries may rave, politicians pass laws for the sake of obtaining votes, but the economic law of 2 and 2 making 4 always remains the same. The trade unionists of New Zealand doubtless thought when the law was passed that they should have preference, that they had done a good day’s work —but what effrontery, a mentality similar to the Kaiser’s. One hundred thousand pleasureloving people, if not work-shy, certainly not strivers, to pit themselves against the rest of the world, concerning which they know very little, yet on which their daily bread depends. Their fall must be as the Kaiser’s, and like him, they will bring others with them. The rest of the Dominion look on unconcerned whilst Parliament submits to the dictates of 100,000 trade unionists. Years ago, an enterprising old identity, after copious inquiries, much work, and large capital outlay, started a fruitcanning business. Labour got together, making such demands that the concern had to shut down, resulting in the loss of a huge sum of money, combined with very many months of travelling, expert planning, and thought—thought of helping coming generations. But “Labour” prefers to consume American canned fruits rather than the result of its own work, and then there are shrieks when work is short. Yet, Labour has got what it asked for. Last June, there was a letter in the Press. The following is an extract: “Where do the fjinds (Labour union funds) go to, and what are they used for? It is common knowledge that no sick or out-of-work pay is ‘obtainable.” This letter continues in the same strain. It is signed “Victim.” The unions are very discreetly silent. Are the 100.000 members all “Victims”? How long will the remainder of the community submit to being dragged at the heels of a few trade agitators, and politicians, who impoverish the whole of the people of the Dominion? The final appeal of the unions is always to the Arbitration Court, which understands very little more about the subject than they do themselves, as the evidence placed before it is usually unsound. The complete insincerity of “Labour” is expressed in its total disregard for the great privations and sufferings of nearly all the smaller farmers, and farmers are fast going back to the days of serfdom. I will make use of a borrowed .phrase. It is: “Peril develops when' the standard of living outstrips the standard of work. Justice will raise the standard of living to the standard of work f inevitable and jippleasant necessity will bring the standard of living down to the standard of work.” We are only now at the beginning of “the inevitable and unpleasant necessity.” In support of this, there are the following figures, for the past ten years:— £ Exports .... 502,516,265 Imports 475,196,621 Deficiency to meet 27,319,644 Interest on external debt .. 54,892,497 Excess of exports 27,319,644 Deficiency to meet interest on external debt 27,572,853 Such figures go to show that our present ’ financial stringency is- the logical outcome of facts. But to look at, this matter from another aspect. The interest of external loans, Government and local body, at the present time, is over ■£8,000,000. .Therefore, in- the present decade there : will be over £80,000.000 to pay out; Is not this a matter for the gravest reflection of all concerned? The prevailing standard of living is based on borrowing, not on earnings aqd savings; therefore it must end. but not only that, the result of the borrowings has to be shouldered, aud the weight will . prove heavy, as much money has been wasted. Universal extravagance must cease if a cure is to be made, ' V '. • In a report of a recent court case there is this: “He (the solicitor for the defence.) was perfectly satisfied it had been commenced at the instigation of the union secretary.” And costs were given against the Government. :It comes to this: There are.far and.away too many laws, too many Government arid trade officials. They are both obliged to make trouble to prove their necessity. In this matter there were the court expenses,: thq inspector of awards, two solicitors, the assistant secretary of the union, aud, several of the staff, of the business concerned. It is typical of the jway . the, business of the country is conducted; All have to pay their share, so up goes the, cost of living, and production.. We have not the many resources of Australia, but pur debt per head is greater, and among the things necessary to save us from the plight of Australia is; a great cutting down of all costs, and all; labour getting down to work, combined’ with the severest thrift, public and private. i

I would like to nuike use of another borrowed phrase: “Economic laws and' the rules of arithmetic cannot be altered by popular clamour, and the best service any man can render to his country is to proclaim their truth and power, regardless of the strength of the forces against him, and confident that the tide must turn.” I take it that the last six words mean that only when the former ones have been learnt, experienced and put into force.

The most urgent necessity for the British people to rouse themselves, and get closer together, is shown by the past half-year’s figures. Germany’s export trade was £310.000.000. That of the United Kingdom £305.000,000. This is the first occasion on which Germany has obtained the second statistical position of being a. great exporting country, and the first time the United Kingdom has taken the third position. In pre-war days, the United Kingdom was well ahead of the world. It is as clear as daylight, to the most simple minded, that Socialistic legislation. governmental interference in business. and trade unions are rapidly ruining the whole of the British people. When these freaks have wasted the capital of the Empire, they will not be a penny better off. but will then be obliged to get to' work, and work as they have never worked before, or starve. —I nm. etc.. OBSERVER. Napier. October 14.