LIVE AND LET LIVE. Fair Play for the Colonial Youth.

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 98, 17 May 1902, Page 8

LIVE AND LET LIVE. Fair Play for the Colonial Youth.

WE are glad to observe tbat the Arbitra ion Court has again reminded the trades unionists that they are not the only pebbles on the beach. It takes them a long time to grasp the fact, but in course ot rime it may be brought home to them. They seem to regard preference of employment and restriction of apprentices or boy labour as their natural prerogative and indefeasible right. But the Court is going slow on this absurd preference for unionists, which is both arrogant and opposed to the principle of freedom of contract. And it is setting its face like a flint against the preposterous attempt to force boys or youths out of occupations that are suited to them in order that the masters may be compelled to employ adult unionists in their place. • • • Judge Cooper put the matter very plainly and straightforwardly this week when he said the youth ot the colony must not be restricted from getting employment. Also that the Court had something more to guard than merely the interests of classes. It had to guard the interests of the community. The unionists seem to ignore altogether two aspects of this question which the President of the Court put into their proper focus and position. Why should the Court, he asked, compel a small and struggling trader to employ a man at full wage to do the work which a youth was fully competent to do '? Just so. Why should it ? To do so would be to make the Court an instrument of tyranny. There would be no hope or prospect of success for the small man who wanted to start in business for himself. The cost of living would be made far dearer than it now is and industrial enterprise would receive another se^ere check and set back. * * But what about the rising generation ? That is another aspect of the question. If the trades unionists had their own sweet will our growing lads would have mighty small chance of learning a trade in this colony. The number of openings would be kept so small that they would command a stiff premium which only the well-to-do could afford to pay. As for the rest, unless they chose to go through life as unskilled drudges, navvies on the roads, and beasts of burden, they would have to migrate to other and freer lands to procure the privilege of learning a trade at which they might as men earn a decent livelihood. Is it not passing strange that any body of workers should seek to narrow the opportunities for their own children ? If the colony is to progress and prosper its youth must have a fair field in the labour market. We are glad, therefore, that the Arbitration Court speaks its mind with no uncertain sound upon this matter. Its first definite announcement was made at Invercargill some time ago, and since then it has laid stress upon it more than once.