TAKING THE RIGHT TURNING

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 14 February 1921, Page 3

TAKING THE RIGHT TURNING

HOPE FOR INDUSTRIAL BETTER-

MENT.

EXTREMISTS IN' THE MD4ORITY

(Contributed by the Welfare League^

From the advice of several of the League's supporters who have been in Great Britain, recently and have closely enquired into industrial conditions tnere we ; are convinced that there ha*

come about a turning movement fdr the better. The serious trouble in the coal industry; the strike of railway men which threatened Britain's industrial stability and the whole economic life ot the nation; the step taken by the Trade's Union Congress in establishing -a Council of Action to dictate the Empire's policy by - a threat of general' stoppage of • all industries—these and minor troubles have been met and overcome. 'To us in New Zealand it has seemed at times as if Great Britain was being overwhelmed with, industrial strife and * Station for semi-Bolshevist ends. Those nearer at hand realised that much of the display was a sensational which did not move' the ! steady going people of the British Isles from their course of patient reconstrucctrve work. There was, we' gather no great danger that the people of the' Old .Country would of intent plunge into the rapids of a national revolution, but , 'for a, time there was grave peril that * by isome overt action the country* industries might have be^n involved in a serious struggle for life on account of widespread stoppages of work. The whole Empire owes its "best thanks to tf-ie groups of thinking men and women •who have been constantly affirming •their opposition to any policy in the direction of copying the Bolshevik programme; indulging'in "di r rect .actionist" methods; inciting tbe jpassionate outbursts when cool steady judgment was most required. We could cite a rather full list,of Trades Union leaders, including such men as Messrs JHenaer&bn, Thomas, dynes, Appleton> Stephen Walsh, and Labourites &uch as ADp Guest, Robert Rlatchford. Mr and . Mrs. Show'dehy who have over and over again counselled moderation and the avoidance of extreme measures. The credit is 'due to these many Labourites and Trades Unionists that they ha s» ii6ip_ed to steady the. thoughts of t tne .millions jof wage earners at a time when, communist propagandas all over ■■'•ie-. Kingdom were attempting to in- : cite to general revolt, and talked about .resorting to. general strikes with tne ' 'idea of. jpolitical revolution always 'in •view. The evidence is that in spite of many strange happenings the ±$ritisii workers in the mass are loyal citizens who seek betterment of conditions, but have little time for the socialistic pro- * grammes that aim at ' cataclysmic Change- and general unheaval. Mr . Stephen,Walsh, M.P., of the^Lancashjre Miners' Federation, states the position correctly when he says "the British and Russian views are as the poles asunder." Tempted rwith the vision of dictatorship the. British workers have taken the > right turning—away' from .dictatorship and towards fuller democracy. - .;.-.• . ; ,

Duryig this last year the Australian States: and also our oton Dominion hare experienced much trouble, loss!and hardship from the numerous stoppages of work:. Even now the States of Australia are making, big efforts to recover fronFthe loss ©ustaned by strikes and "chut f down of work" in (ponnection with their key industries. There is nope for industrial betterment in several events that have transpired recently W% learn that the Australian Workers' Union (the largest industrial bodv-m Australia) has, in a ballot taken," declared for arbitration methods by a substantial majority. In addition it is reported that the' secretary of the Australian Seamen's Union has given *«c required assurance that the idea of job control" of ships ib not maintamed, and the men will carry on regularly if the ships are nut iijto requisition. Ihough there has been much semi-Bolshevist. and direct actionist talk m. Australia the evidence is that extremists.are but a small minority.: It is creditable to the Australian workers that they arie turning to the constitutional lines of action: It is probably recognised by Labour men there who think seriously that a white Australia is but a vain dreaia unless the white workers take hold of their country and build up strongly on lines of sane constructive policy. With regard to New Zealand we are glad to «ay that there axe evidences in various parts of the country'of a change towards, more reasonable thought and action. Last year we experienced a good deal of trouble .from sectional strikes, a line of action which is being frowned .^x>n by the Unions and Federations. We trust that the Labour bodies will prove strong enough to wholly suppress these petty outbursts which unsettle industry and rather discredit Trades Unionism when allowed. On several occasions we have written strongly condemning the "go-slow" practice and when we now learn that the v N.Z. Cpal _• ners' Federation has advised the Unions in afniliaiibn with it to stop the practice and resume the normal output, we desire to give the Federation every credit for its action in this direction. This ig doing the fair thing by the general body of the people, and the miners' action in resuming full output will be appreciated by all sections of the people. All of ue differ more or tees in our economic views, and we may "»ve various opinions as to how society should be constituted and property owned, but we are glad to believe that whether wage-earners or capitalists, socialists or individualists our people are_ generally sane enough to seek in making the best of what we have whilst it exists. It is this streak of practical common sense that has made Britain great, and.we are pleased and nroud to witness its expression in these Southern Isles.