INDUSTRIAL PEACE LEAGUE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3549, 12 October 1926, Page 4

INDUSTRIAL PEACE LEAGUE.

CONFERENCE BEFORE DISPUTES.

“There are , many people who spend a great deal of time talking about schemes to prevent wars between nations; it is equally important, in our opinion, to endeavour to prevent war between classes”. This quotation is from an article by J. Havelock Wilson, President of the British, Seamen’s Uniin. As an endeavour to give practical effect to the ideal this Labour leader, with several others is seeking to establish is an “Industrial Peace League” for the Empire. Many people will say “Oh, yes —it is a fine idea but unattainable at present.”

As reasons why it should be made attainable Mr. Havelock Wilson presents the following—“Labour cannot do without Capital just as Capital cannot do without Labour. Ever since the end' of the war we have had nothing but disastrous strikes, every one of which has resulted in the impoverishments of the workers. Let us try a new dodge and foster a better understanding with the employers.” Of course, people will say “Yes, it is very sad what is taking place at Home. We settle much better by our Arbitration system.” What is somewhat lost sight of is that the settlement .of our little disputes only touches the fringe of the large issue of Industrial Peace. Our producers, business houses and workpeople are all being affected by the stoppages of industry taking place outside our little Dominion. A League of of Peace for the constant fostering of a spirit of goodwill and right understandings amongst those engaged id industry - employers and employed is highly desirable if only for the selfish reason that we would all benefit by it. The Hon. T. S. Weston, President of the New Zealand Employers’ Federation, has suggested a five years industrial truce. Frankly’, wc dislike this word “Truce” as it bears the suggestion that war is the normal condition. In 1920 wc advocated the holding of a National Industrial Conference of the Employers and Workers. Instead of an elaborate programme, which would raise many points of difference, we submitted the following. I Review of existing methods for the settlement of industrial disputes with' a view to devising improved methods which would be mutually acceptable to employers and workers. , .

2. Considerationof the principle of establishing industrial councils representative of employers and employed for Ihe joint control of particular industries and the best means of establishing same where desired. 3. —The best means of stabilnsng conditions in order to ensure the progress of our industries and maintain a good standard of living, having a special regard to the relation of wages and prices. CONFERENCE BEFORE DISPUTES. There is still need for the parties in industry to come together. For a long time they have been engaged m meeting only on matters of dispute, in sectional meetings or before the Conciliation Council and Arljitiation Court. A dispute is always the reason for meeting. This form of conference has the drawback that it is generally held in an atmosphere of suspicion. Simple proposals from either side ai<; viewed by the other as containing some hidden menace. As far as the spirit engendered it is more like one of armed truce for a period than one of peace and amity between the parties. The employers and workers still remain disputants after Awards are made and never really reach an appreciation of their relations as patners in a joint concern, which it is to the benefit of both to make successful. We still maintain that there is need for industrial conferences of employers and workers apart from questions of dispute. Employers and employed are not merely buyeis and sellers of a commodity—labour power —about which they must always be disputing. Workers are consumers as well as producers. They have to buy as well as sell, and on the state of industry depends how well they can buy. Both parties have the one thing in common, from which it is impossible to escape, that they are dependent 1 on the success of industry for the benefits they are seeking. Conferences on industrial questions before and independent of disputes would, we believe, lead to better understandings.

Whilst the big idea of an Empire “Industrial Peace League” is being developed why should not the Employees’ Association and Trade! Unions get closer together in industrial conference for the betterment of the industries and their own welfare?

(Contributed by the N.Z. Welfare League).