THE CLAIMS OF THE UNIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8360, 13 September 1890, Page 3

THE CLAIMS OF THE UNIONS.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, Living some distance from town, where the spirit of Unionism is not much felt, 1 am perhaps able to take a calmer and therefore less one-sided view, than some ol our pastors have done, when they say in ' fleet that they approve of all the extreme leasures taken by the Unions. I am nor wgainst Unions, but I say if you want a Union to be respected, it must teach its members to respect right and to all men. From perusing your paper I iearn that several members of the Union had pledged themselves for twelve months' to Messrs. W hitcombe and Tombs, and 'leUnioa presumably knowing this, called the men oui without having any regard for the honour and integrity of its members (I mention this as one out of many which might be cited). Now, I ask if the members had had no mora regard for their engagement to the Union, than the Union had to their engagement to Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs, what would become of the Union? If they want the sympathy of the public they must have some regard for the honour and truth of its members. I hear a great deal about." the great principle." I should like to know what are the principles of the Union. Do they sincerely believe that they are right in teaching their members that they have no need to have any regard to any agreement they may have entered into with their employers? If so, Ida not see how it Is possible for anyone belong ing to the Unions to have the confidence oi his employers. I feel sure if they had insisted on their members keeping their engagement with Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs and others they would have gained strength by such a course. I should like to know, if in the future employers cannot have some guarantee against this kind of thing when employing Union men. Until this question is settled I do not see how Union men can be employed where the work is such that dropping it suddenly will entail loss.—l am, etc., R. 0. Clark, Juu., Hobsonville. l^-S.—l was much pleased with the way Bishop Cowie treated this question. Although I do not belong to that section of the Church, vet I feel convinced by what he said that he lias far more of the spirit of Christ than those who have spoken so wildly on this matter. My motto is, " Render unto all men that which is just and equal."