The Nelson Evening Mail MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1922 SEAMEN'S TROUBLES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 13 November 1922, Page 4

The Nelson Evening Mail MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1922 SEAMEN'S TROUBLES

THE seamen's trouble is obviously an attack on the Arbitration Court, which, after an investigation, probably the longest and most thorough in its history, decided, in common with the decreasing cost of living, to reduce somewhat the remuneration of seamen. It, however, fixed a scale of wages relatively higher ( than pre-war rates, and equivalent to the 1920 agreement, with adjustments in proportion to the Court's general pro- j visions in regard to cost of living bonuses. If is perfectly obvious that unions cannot expect to win all possible advantages from arbitration, and then ; wantonly throw aside everything in an award which displeases them. There i are those who would welcome the end of arbitration in labour disputes, but • though such ■'•• consummation would doubtless improve the status of a few union officials, it would most certainly be disadvantageous to thousands of wageearners and to the general public. In the international world, everyone is looking to arbitration by the League of

Nations to replace war. Exactly the same applies in the industrial sphere. The seamen can hardly hope to escape the general reduction of wages that has taken place. The Arbitration Court went fullv into ihe whole matter and it came

to ii. decision ,-is stated above. There are those who believe llial' llie Court is keeping wages up too high, and ii' if were abolished, ilier*' would he a lower scale immediately. this as il may, tin* fact remains that the, seamen have shown scant consideration for the yenera! public. The people as a whole are desirous of seeing thai the seamen rereive fair treatment, and would be with them in any reasonable altitude they might take up. but for them to bring about the present paralysis of trade is to forego any claims for sympathy or help from the genera! public, many members of which will be hit infinitely harder than the seamen themselves. It is argued by the scientific industrialist that with proper organisation strikes would always be won. The contention is absurd and fails to take into consideration Ihe elementary facts of industrial life. Wages and the reward of industry "depend on production. Thousands of other workers have accepted the reduction in wages, and if is fair to them it is equally fair to the seamen.