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WELFARE LEAGUE'S ACTIVITIES

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—The publication in The Post of the Welfare League's arguments for the welfare of the public has been, to say the least, entertaining, both to the employers and the employees, in' the mining and waterside industries. Without entering into controversy regarding the formation and constitution of the league, I would like to ask the writer qj these articles if consistency' to a principle is part of the"' constitution of the league? If the answer to this query is in'the affirmative, then what attitude •does the league intend to adopt re the disputes, of the railway men;' building trades, and a. score of other industries which are trying to adjust thoir differences? Up to the present the league has confined its attack to the miners, seamen, and watersiders. I wonder if the writer of these articles has ever troubled to find out the ropfc causes of so much industrial turmoil in the above industries? Does he recognise that the greatest factor for discontent in any industry is the oondition under which the mail works? The.nature of the work and its environment is. responsible for the smooth working or otherwise of any industry, and it- is a natural sequence that the miner the wharf: labourer, and the: seaman have always been the moet militant unionists in every country in the world; It is generally conceded that the miner, works under conditions infinitely worse than any other industry; arid the sewnen and firemen, work; under conditions far from ideal, whilst the wharf labourer, ' whose work is casual, has to ait round most of his time waiting for a job, and, incidentally, compares his lot with the man in steady, employment, much to the detriment of the wharf labourer himself. A point the league waits to get acquainted with is this: Put any class of worker into an industry where conditions are ■ worse than other industries, and trouble is a. natural oonsequfence. Another iirgiitne&'fc of the league is "that it represents tag great third party, i.e., the public" Now, this requires some explanation. If the league is to be taken, literally, any party to a dispute ceases to be a gart of the general publio imme-1 diately it tries to .adjust its industrial differences. . Oae can hardly "admit the league's contention that the minors and ! mine-owners should be subservient to the will of a public which for years has bsen apathetic with regard to the mining in- | dustry. . The same applies to the seamen and watersjders; in fact, to any industry. I will admit that something in'the nature of a Welfare League is necessary, but I would resiyectfully suggest that to gain the confidence of ..the majority of working men, the league should investigate some of tho main • questions dealing with the high cost of living, price of clothing, footwear, rent, and other commodities, before attacking tho various Labour unions for trying to better their conditions. I have already stated that I do not wish for a controversy re the league, because I realise that to discuss the claims of the various unions at this stage would not be fair, as the matter is Bub-judice; but, in conclusion, I would urge the league to deal ivith the question of public welfare from a broader standpoint, put some energy into the question of profiteering, and I ara 1 sure tho league will got all tho support, it desires from every working' man in the community.—l.am, etc 1 , . ■ W. H. DOUGLAS. 9th Jfebruarj.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19200210.2.113

Bibliographic details

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 34, 10 February 1920, Page 9

Word Count
583

WELFARE LEAGUE'S ACTIVITIES Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 34, 10 February 1920, Page 9

WELFARE LEAGUE'S ACTIVITIES Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 34, 10 February 1920, Page 9

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