Greymouth Evening Star. MONDAY, OCTOBER Unionism And Apathy

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 October 1947, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. MONDAY, OCTOBER Unionism And Apathy

JVLTHOUGH the introduction of compulsory unionism i#i New Zealand certainly . increased the numerical strength of union rolls, it did little in actual fact to add commensurate weight to the opinions and actions of industrial labour leaders. Merely by reference to union rolls, these men are able to claim that they speak for so many workers. It may, however, often be reasonably doubtftd that they are expressing the majority opinion of those whom they purport to represent. For instance, it was announced last week that a Westland union had passed a resolution regarding a certain militant action. The voting was 40 to two. At the same time it was stated that the membership of the union concerned was something over 400. Tn those circumstances it cannot possibly be held that the 42 who largely represented one section of the membership only, spoke for the,whole 400. To argue that way would be to argue to the point of absurdity. Similar instances of apathy on the part of union members are far from being unusual occurrences. They do not, of course, occur so frequently in the case of the high-ly-organised unions in key industries. It has to be remembered, however, that in relation to the great body of wage-earners these unions are relatively small in numbers. But by the nature of the employment they cover they are able to exercise a power which is not proportionate to their numerical strength in the community. This is a trend which is the very antithesis of democracy. There is nothing wrong with the principle of unionism, which can be made an effective force for good in the community. What, has no merit is the law of compulsion. Through it a handful of men have been enabled to make the fictitious claim that they represent so many tens of thousands of wage-earners whereas in reality they express the opinion of a number ver}’ much smaller. Compulsion’ is abhorrent in any lawful phase of democratic life. Surely, if unionism has merit —and it has in the hands of men whose primary aim is not the furthering of their own selfish and undemocratic .ends, but the general good—then it will attract the voluntary membership of so many of the wageearners that the few who choose to remain outside the fold will not count, While, however, compulsory unionism is with us and while there is yet time,to assess the general position, and to act where a remedy is required, a duty devolves on all unionists to see. that those who claim to express their opinions have a complete mandate so 1o do. Twelve years of living under a Socialist Government appear to have made New Zealanders somewhat, apathetic about their own industrial affairs ..and about interference in their lives. Step by step their freedom has been filched from them. Matters which do not at the moment seem to be of great importance are allowed to pass by almost unnoticed. But, as the classical saying goes, the price of freedom is eternal vigilance It is just that sort of casual indifference noticeable towards unionism which leads to the advance of the extremists and the permanent loss of freedom. It democracy is to continue to function, the people must keep themselves fully informed, must learn to . think for themselves and must see to it. that those who speak for them are in reality giving exto their will. There arc some very precious and also very ancient principles, which today are in danger of belong taken permanently from the people.