INDUSTRIAL TROUBLES.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2661, 26 May 1908, Page 4

INDUSTRIAL TROUBLES.

The Blackball strike is settled and settled, we regret, in a most unsatisfactory manner. The men who had defied their employers, broken an award of the Arbitration Court, gone out on strike, laughed at the judgment of the Court and forfeited public sympathy won their battle all along the line. It is a deplorable conclusion and one fraught with disaster to the future of Arbitration as a legal and peaceable medium for the settlement of trade disputes. The result largely was due to an accident cry: a rush of water into the State Coal Mine at Tyneside. This left the Blackball Co. with a monopoly and, naturally, they were eager to seize i*. They, therefore, incontinently submitted to the men's demands. They gave up all they had stood out for and, incidentally, they shattered the faith of the community in the efficacy of law when applied to industrial differences. Had the men been harshly treated or had they had reasonable grounds of excuse for what they did, it would not have been so bad, but in the absence of these factors we can only regard the outcome as most damaging to the cause of industrial peace. And for this the Government are not free from blame. Already there are signs that,we are at the parting of the ways so far as Arbitration Courts are concerned. An award is valuable only as long as it is loyally obeyed by both parties. In the past twelve months or so awards have been obeyed because, in most instances, the workers secured an advance in their wages. This satisfied them they regarded the Court and the Act with approbation. What they had S long wauted had at last been secured — a machine by which it was possible to force up current rates of wages. Warnings and predictions were alike vain. 'lhe men believed they had a good thing and were determined to keep it. The prophets, howover, proved truer than most of their class. With the legall) created advance in wages came a simultaneous but much higher advance in rent and food supplies. The cost of living went up by leaps and bounds and, in time, a point was reached at which it whs not possible further to increase wages.

Then followed adverse decisions, grumblings and threats which culminated in strikes of greater or less intensity. New Zealand, in short, has reached a stage at which she mast re* consider her bearings. Her elaborate industrial machinery has broken down at the very point it was predicted it would—when and where the worker, resent* a decision of th 9 Court The latest caso is that of the Auckland Tramway employees. At this hour of writing the whole of th 6 service has gone out on strike. The men have not defied the Court as was the O£M with the Blackball strikers but they have certainly broken an award of the Court. Se far, however, as it is possible at present to gather the men hsfb a grievance and they cannot obtain redress from the management. This view, also, seems lo have considerable support among the general public. The employees complain that men are die* missed without cause, or reason, or character, and failing a satisfactory explanation from the Manager they decided to strike. Shortly after twelve o elock, noon, last Friday, every car was laid up and Auckland citizens had to walk to and from their homes and business. It is too early to speak definitely as to the right and wrongs of the dispute but from the published statements of the Secretary of the Union and the manager of the tramways the manager has done nothing to avoid trouble. He has refused to recognise the men's requests in any way. Like other private employers he assumes that if he gives a man a week's notice, or a week's wages in lieu of notice, he has done all the law demands. He may have done so but he has not done all that fair play demands. In no Government office is so arbitrary a policy in force. A civil servant has the right to know the reason why he is dismissed and his dismissal depends upon the evidence submitted. Private employers are above this equitable rule and their action too often proves harsh in its operation and cruel in its effects. We say that no man, or woman, should be discharged without due and sufficient cause. The Auckland Tramways man* agement, which is a private concern, thinks otherwise. The directors say, through their manager, that if they pay a man a week's wages and dismiss him they are not called upon to show cause. The men and many of the public think differently but between this conflict of opinions the 80,000 people of Auckland and suburbs are thrown into great personal inconvenience and monetary loss. We can but hope that the Government aided by the common sense of the majority will effectively deal with % situation that is a serious reflection upon our wisdom and ominous with evil to our future well-being