The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26. 1927. DIRECT ACTION METHODS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 February 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26. 1927. DIRECT ACTION METHODS.

■ Thkiik are .signs that the labor world is waking up to the dangers of the red element within its ranks. The AusI tralian Labour Party executive has just | issued a manifesto to the Labour Leals guos and Councils, explaining why the fled rules should be rejected by the Party. It states: “There has been a plot by the Communists to secure control of the party, and despite the warnings issued from time to tilin', the deadly grip of Communism is gradually becoming tighter and tighter on the I Labour movement. The plotters have

been at work for tho past four years, and if certain members of the Labour Party have their way the last act will he staged in June at the annual conference of the Labour Party, and the curtain will fall with tho Communist members and emissaries in full control of the party and safety entrenched behind a set of rules which will allow no escape from the deadly grip. When the members are awakening to a sense of the position in regard to which their party is drifting, it is a healthy sign. In New Zealand the other day the unemployed in one centre found it necessary to depose a couple of selfappointed leaders, because of their extreme leanings. The readiness with which sections of labor are prepared to 1 jump to extremes is often noticeable in the shipping world. The Tin inn 1 Company has experienced cases of that nature rather frequently of late. This 1

week wo had the State coal miners also 1 adopting an extreme course at a mo- * ment’s notice over a matter which * surely might have been the subject of r official negotiation in a reasonable way. c The. disposition to adopt direct action v methods is far too prevalent, and this at a time when employment is none t

ton plentiful. The crass stupidity of Ilia position n( I lie Stal<- mines is shown hv the fact that some hundreds of ini'll are losing days of time in a squabble over an. hour or twos time for a fraction of I lie employees. Yet at the behest of someone all the men are called out as a “protest," when one of llu-ir number might: quietly, through regular channels have presented their grievance to the proper quarter without the- serious heavy loss which resulted. and without all the heartburnings resulting. This, however, is

not an unusual eireunislance. It recurs all too often. Whet.her it is to he set down to Ihc red element within the ranks or not, we do not know, hut the policy displays a sad lack of reason. and shows had leadership .somewhere. Doubtless, were the men, as a whole, to lie consulted, the aggregate decision would should more wisdom. The rank and file are never consulted till the men are knee deep in trouble, and then there is a display of misplaced loyalty to loaders, which is as ridiculous ns the mistaken course in the iirst instance. The proueiiess for direct action methods i» likely to lie had for labor organisations ultimately. With the present agitation for a revision of arbitration methods it. would not he surprising to see the preferences clauses removed from Die decisions, where the men take unconstitutional methods in their own hands to force a decision upon the. employers. The employers are having such a taste of didieull times at presold that it will not he surprising if they in turn revolt, and seek some redress under the law which will safeguard their interests when their employees attempt direct action mol Imds to force an unfair decision upon them. Unless differences in regard to the operation of arbitration awards are dealt with in a seemly manner, through the Court, or by private negotiation, without the profess of a revolt which a strike entails, then* is no seeuritv for the employer. He is . Die dune of the occasion. Opinion is I trending largely for a recasting of the

system of arbitration. Labor organisations are largely responsible for the situation which is arising, and that there is an awakening feeling in Australia on the subject is not surprising. Evidently the red loaders cannot fool nil their dupes all the time. A similar awakening in New Zealand would he well on time just now.