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Evening Star, Issue 15139, 22 March 1913, Page 6

Whrx the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth (Mr Fisher) was in A Holiday London attending the TmStrike. periai Conference of 19H he was waited upon, among others, by a deputation of representatives of tho London Chamber of Commerce, who courteously (but unavailingly) (protested ajramst the effect on British merchants and trade of certain Australian legislation. The occasion was made noteworthy by Mr Fisher's resentment and denial of a, remark from one of tho delegates concerninc the number and frequency of industrial strikes in Australia. The delegate, not having his statistics in his hand, could not reply, and the Prime. Minister's ipse dirit remained ou record as tho statement of one who ruiet know the facts of the case. Everyone in Australia, however, knew that Mr Fisher was wrong, that his asperity and touchiness were not warranted by the circumstances, and that the delegate was well within the bounds of accuracy. The number of strikes in Australia in 1911 was sufficient to warrant almost any statement, and tho number there has been since is a striking but unflattering comment upon the Prime Minister's dogmatism. A state of industrial unrest, which finds expression in constant strikes, is the normal condition of Australia's social life. The community is never certain from one day to another what portion of its necessary convenience is to be interfered with. One day it learns it will have to go without light- and heat, another that its goods will not- be handled on the wharves, another that its coal supplies have stopped, and yet another that its holiday arrangements niMst be abandoned be-

cause certain workers are not getting what they think they ought to get. Probably the outstanding, feature of each and aJI of these wanton and. wasteful strikes is their utter selfishness. There is not a thought for a single human heing savo the members of the organisation that is responsible for the order to cease work. Rarely, however, has this fact been brought homo so plainly as- the cold-blooded resolve to hold up tho Sydney ferry services on Good Fri- , day. Without warning, and at an hour [ when the-public on either side of the harbor I were pouTmg down in thoir thousands to I the slips, the employees went out on ' strike, and the services were brought to a standstill. Some 45,000 peoplo, who. doubtless, had spent many houi6, if not daj'Sj in preparing for their outing were, it is estimated, thrown back on wandering tho streets or-making long detours to their destinations, while hundreds who, holiday or, no holiday, had to work were delayed for hours. There is neither reason nor justice nor honor in a strike of this sort. It is playing the game very low down, so low, indeed, that the most obtuse and obstinate of workers who had arranged for a day across-or down the harbor with his wife and family will bo able to appreciate it. That a city, a State, or Commonwealth can continue to prosper, or even to retain the in. heritance it now has, when such lawlessness and self-seeking prevails, is inconceivable. Tho Australian the remark is true of all peoples and nationalities—must mend their ways, or. great and rich as they now are", their future downfall as a law-abiding and therefore civilised people is certain.

o>tr of the puzzles that environ the oute* :■ » breaks of Labor in revolt, Strikes versus that are now so frequent Co-operation, and far-reaching. iTpra- ,, . . ± . ■ sented for elucidation in the tact that nobody seems to think it worth while to find a solution of the difficulty by the introduction of co-operative and profit-sharing systems. Outside Utcpian circles it is generally believed that m that direction only can industrious workers look for salvation. Loafers and the unemployable can have no pnrt nor lot with this branch of our industrial system, and must be placed under compulsion as members of the bodv politic who are not quite responsible for their infirmity of purpose. The want of this cordial cooperation between employers and employed has been thrust into prominence in Sydliey quite recently by the striko of workers for the gas companies. These men labored urder an award that does not expire until September, 1914, according to which tho wages were fixed on a basis by which, consumers pay 3s 6d per I,oooft for their gas. They sought to obtain an advance of Is per day in their wages, hut when this was refused by the New South Wales Industrial Court they struck work, putting the whole city and its suburbs to vexatious inconvenience, to say the least of it, and to not a little monetary loss. Setting aside tho question as to the outrageous unfairness of the men in breaking a. compact deliberately entered into, it is very opportune to ask whether this disruption in the gas companies' affaire could have happened if, by the introduction of a profit-sharing system, the men had been invited to become participators in tho profits made as the result of their labors. As matters at present stand, tho workers have lost- in wages £6,300, and the demand they made would, if granted, have increased the companies' wages bill by £26.000 per annum. This would have necessitated raising the price" of giie at a time when there is keen rivalry between the two popular ilhnninants—gas and electricity. Hveryono who takes the trouble to inqnire may know to a certaintv how the 30 British gas companies, with capital involved to the tune of £50.000,000, carry out the profit-sharing system to the advantage of shareholders and employees. The experimental stage as to what can be done to bring about harmony between Capital and Labor has long since passed, for co-operation lias stood the test of many years' wear and tear, and its utility as a peacemaker and a school for teaching thrift is recognised on nearly every hand. There are. however, some exceptions in quarters, where they would hardly be looked for. This, will be seen by referenco to a very instructive statistical table published in that portion of our last Saturday's issue where it would be most likely to catch the eye of our industrial readers —namely, the Lnbor Column. This valuable information is taken from the ' Socialist Year Book and Labor Annual,' and contains the significant statement that among the 3.010,546 trade unionists in Great Britain there are 2.760.531 co-operators. In Australia trade unionists number 360,000, of whom 42.680 aro co-operators ; New Zealand has 60.000 trade unionists, and not. one co-operator. In this negative position she keeps company with Bulgaria. Greece, and Servia! If this could be explained by pointing out that there was no complaining in our streets, that every willing worker was fully employed under conditions that comprised short hours and high wages undeT amiable taskmasters (therefore there was no need to set up co-operative stores to abolish the middleman- and bring in dividends to shareholders), the neglect of these institutions, that have proved so valuable in other parts of the world, could be understood. But is this so? .Are there not agitators, paid by the workers themselves, going about the country continually to preach rebellion against " wage slavery," ihe tyranny of capi tali -tic employers, the speeding up in factories, and the exhaustion attendant on working eight hours a dav instead of six or four? "The most glib amongst the -workers are perpetually crying out againet the bondage of th»'ir class." but yet this large body of 50.000 uc-onist* are as : nert in the matter of helping themselves as their feTtows in the most backward countries in Fuvope. Why cannot they take a leaf out of the co-partner-ship book of Great Britain? The latest returns touching the Labor Co-partnership Association show that there are now five affiliated societies in Scotland and 105 in England and Wales. These have a turnover of £4,681,429. but out of this the canny Scots with thoir five eocietiee claim £3,059,568. The invested capital totals close on two millions sterling, and the profits for the past year amounted to £228,180. The amount paid in dividends on wages was £29,847. These societies rover all branches of industrytextile trades, boot and leather trades, metal trades, building and wood trades, printing, agriculture, and various other industries. This shows in tho clearestmanner that co-operation is applicable to all labor-employing callings. Such an axiomatic statement is only necessary in a country where workers proclaim their disabilities from the housetop but fail to put their own shoulders to the wheel. Instead of taking a manly and self-reliant position, so many workers are fooled into the belief that it" is by Acts of Parliament that an industrial millennium will be brought about.

Mr Philip Snowden, M.P.. has recently staled—and he may be taken to bo quite en rapport, with Labor aspirations—that if the desires of British workers took articulate form it would bo to secirro (1) assured employment, (2) a decent wage. (3) some, guarantee of provision in" case of permanent inability to work, and (4) reduction in the number of working hours. The Dominion worker has been in the enjoyment of all these conditions for many years, together with many educational and political advantages yet denied to British workers. Another British M.P. —Mr Waldorf Astor, one of the Unionist representatives of Plymouth—in suggesting remedies for industrial unrest, gives a word of warning that is quite necessary at this end of the world. He says : In the past the unions did splendid work in improving the conditions of labor, but in recent years they have devoted their attention to politics. As a result, they have been caught in the meshes of party, and have lost their freedom to act on Uw merit of questions affecting the working 1 classes. The enormous powers which they have obtained have been abused by ambitions agitators, who have inflicted suffering on thousands of roeu, women, and children, and dissrusted. the more moderate mem-

bers They have made agreements, and repudiated them as soon as made. Amongst, -the remedies for these evils as set iorth in the Unionist programme aro to be found Go-operation and other reforms that have been on the New Zealand btatute Book for many years.

The Moeraki, with English and Australian mails, is due at the Bluff to-mor-row Her mails will reach Dunedin by the first express on Mondav, but will not be delivered until Tuesday morning.

* Im^" 1 " 1 ' 8 forecast .-—Squally S.W. to N.W. winds, with rain showers; indications improving by noon to-morrow. A passenger in a train that was nearing the main station at Warsaw, in Russian Poland dropped a bottle of benzine on to the floor of one of the big carriages, which was crowded. The bottle broke (says a cable in the Sydnev 'Sun'), and the fluid "-came into contact with the burning end of a cigarette. There was a terrific explosion. The doors and windows were blown out and the occupants were bathed in fire. While the train was still on the move several of them jumped out and extinguished the flames by rolling on the ground. The train was stopped and the carnage uncoupled, and it was discovered that a baby had been burned to death and 30 people badly injured, four of them fatally. ' At 9.43 to-night an eelipso of the moon will begin, which will reach the total phase at 10.41. At 12.15 tho .moon will begin to emerge from the shadow. Some local enthusiasts propose to watch the phenomenon at tho Tanna Hill observatory. The case against John Keene, charged with failing to pay for the maintenance of a girl m the Burwood Industrial School, was further adjourned by Mr H. Y.'Widdowson, 8.U., at tho Police Court this morning. There was no other business on the "list." '

The motor lorry recently introduced to Central Otago is in steady commission (writes our Cromwell correspondent), and is transporting h.eavy loads between Clyde and the Upper Clutha, and appears to be giving general satisfaction. On one down trip with a load of grain the machine covered the ?.0 miles between Mount Barker and Lowbncii in four hours.

Ihe following was cabled to the Sydnev ' Sun' last week from London :—ln tho present critical situation of European politics the diplomats of France, Britain, Russia, and Germany are eagerly watching one another to see which takes the first step. France's spirited response to the proposal for the military aggrandisement of Germany, it is pointed out, has done more towards cnsiu-ing peace to-day and war to-morrow than aiiy diplomatic move in living recollection. M. Poincare's accession to the Presidency also put more electricity into the Franco-German situation than has been there for many years, and the appointment of M. Delcasse as French Ambassador to St. Petersburg constituted nothing less than a direct "Challenge to Germany, the answer to which has yet to be given. When it is given it may stagger the world with its suddenness.

An amnsing defence was entered in a case heard in the City Police Court yesterday morning, in which Mary Freeman and Margaret Norton were charged that, on the 21st March, 1913, being inmates of the Salvation Army Rescue Home, an institution under the Reformatory Institutions Act, 1909, they did unlawfully escape from such institution. Sub-inspector Fouhysaid that the defendants left the Home at 8 o'clock in the evening, and, not having returned at 10.50 p.m., the authorities communicated with the police, with the result that the wanderers were arrested in the streets at 0.45 a.m. on Friday morning. Iho defendants vigorously denied having any intention of escaping * from tho Home. -Margaret Norton said she was in the habit of taking snuff, and her supply tad run out, and, not having any knowledge of Gavershani, she asked Mary Freeman to accompany her there. At Caversham they were told by a tobacconist that he did not*stock snuff, so thoy decided to go to town for it Iho Magistrate impressed upon the defendants the seriousness of the offence, and convicted and discharged them, on the understanding that they returned to the Home.

Our Cromwell correspondent writes •_ Information has been received that the local courthouse is to lie practically closed and the work is in future to be transacted Ivy Penodisa.il visits from the officer stationed at Clyde. Up till a few years ago a clerk and a cadet were stationed in Cromwell, and there is no evidence that the work has decreased to any extent of late. The office serves a very wide Ois trie! extending right away to the back country at Upper Nevis, and for miles all round J hare is much indignation in the district, and several leading residents have already approached the Minister to provent the change. The local council also intend to move in the matter, and a meeting of protest is spoken of. '["he alteration coos not indicate any confidence in the future prosperity of the district, and ia regarded as a .leaded setback. The present clerk, Mr Gay N. Man-is, is under orders of transfer to Riverton at the end of the month. At a meeting of the Natural Resources Development Committee of Ihe Dunedin Expansion league the following motion was passed:—'-That when Parliament is assembled an arrangement should be made whereby the secretary, by "being in direct communication with one' member, should be informed at once of anything that takes place m Parliament that is within the province of this committee." "Our Own'_' at Christchurch wires: The capital of the new evening paper to 1)0 issued here has been subscribed. It is expected that publication will commence in November. The ' London Times,' in a special article on increased armaments in Europe, pointy out (says a cable to the Svdnev ' Sun') that the world's Press have not sufficiently noticed the influence of Russia on German projects. "When Germany, with 66,000,000 of people,' says the article, "begins to play beggar-m'y-neighbor with Russia and her 166,000,000, a wildcat tax of £50.000.000 on the fortunes of the rich is likely to be only the first of a series. Prussia's peace' strength is 1,400,000, rising sometimes to nearly 2,000,000, and her annual influx of recruits averages 440,000. Bv a stroke of the pen the Tsar can balance the projected additions to the German Army. Russia lacks neither men nor resources, and her army organisation has vastly improved. Therefore the German Army Bill must be condemned for its sterility before it is passed, in so far as Russia is concerned. Mr H. Y. Widdowson. S.M.. presided over a sitting of tho City Police. Court yesterday morning. David Lauder was fined 5s on a charge of drunkenness, and on a •similar charge Tjeora Terpstra. who did not appear, - was find 20s, in 'default of three days' imprisonment, he having been previously convicted, once within the past six months. Robert Campbell pleaded guilty to a. charge of using obscene language in Rattray street in the earlv hours of yesterday morning, and was fined £2, in default of 10 days' imprisonment with hard labor. He was given a week in which to find the inonev.

Mr John Popham, who was rather seriously injured last Sunday through being thrown from his motor evele, is making rapid progress though he. v is still eonu to -» bcd - Mr p °P nbasa ™bas ridden on the Brookland's track for three or four seasons against some of the finest riders m the world but the accident referred to is the first he has ever had.

Wilkinson and Son specialise in prescription work. Accurate dispensing ensured from purest imported drugs and chemicals.— [Advt.J Spm*. of the most perfect examples of portrait photography in sepia are to be geen on lett side or the Zenith Studio vestibule, te2f it"? c ?j ,^°S Ta P ne d by Morra, 2 Ge?rga street - Telephone A of Speight's beer at lunch and smjper is better than all the tea in China,— [Advt.] To-morrow, at St. Paul's Cathedral, there wilj be holy communion at 6 a.m., 7 a,m. and 8 a.ra. Tim Primate, win preach m the nwrnmg, and the Ven. Archdeacon Gould in the evening. Attention js called to the opportunities for faster communion at St. Matthew's Gburoh to-morrow. Celebrations will be at 7, 8 9.15 and (choral) 11 a.m. Festal evensong will' bo at 6.30 p.m. Easter services will be bad at the Roslvn baptist Cutirch to-morrow, the Rev. E Herbert Hobday preaching morning and evening. The subject of the Bov. W.F. Kennedy's tecture at to© Unitarian service in the Trades •Hall to-morrow evening will be ' EsotericChristianity.' The United Starr-Bowkett Building Society are starting their No. 3 group on sth May, *? „?' r J > n ln y li,ng members. A ballot and sale o. £1,500 in Nos. 1 and 2 groups are advertised. The Acme Photo Company, George street, are making quite a new show of eiquisitelyfinished photographs. Country visitors are delighted with their portraits. Tel. 965.—{Advt.] No lady should be without Martin's Apioi and Steel Pills. Sold by all chemists and stores throughout Australasia.—[Advt.] Jnst opened, new photographic goods; besi brands of plates, pipers, mounts, etc., always 'A, At GUl ' S ' Frederick street; teL L,144 £ Agent for Harrington, N.Z. Ud-~ lAdvt.J A notice in regard to Crown land sections open for selection appears in this issue.

A notice in regard to Crown land sections open for selection appears in this issue. The Kaik and North Spit can be reached on Sunday and Monday by s.s. Mahono.

Mrs E. Heycock will speak in the Young. Women's Christian Association HaJl, Moray place, to-morrow afternoon, at 4 o'clock on 'Mission and Y.W.O.A. Work in the Argentine Republic.' Mrs Heycock was, before her marriege, assistant secretary of the Buexps Ayres Association, and is well able to speak on Y.W.C.A. foreign work.

The Rev. E. G. Guthrie, M.A., 8.D., -will take- the se-rvioes at St. Andrew's Church -tomorrow in place of ths Rev. S. R. Orr.

An important special and general meeting of the Otago General Laborers' Union will be held at tire Trades Hall, Duneum, on Wednesday evening next.