SPECIAL INTERVIEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11373, 16 May 1900, Page 3

SPECIAL INTERVIEWS.

PREFERENCE TO UNIONISTS.

EFFECT OP THE RECENT DECISION Lv order to find out how business men view he recent decision of the Appeal Court in Wellington, which establishes the right of lie Arbitration Court to compel employers to give preference to workmen belonging to trade unions, a Herald reporter yesterday waited upon Mr. John Burns, who indicated the extent of tho damage which will be caused in trade circles by the judgment. " In the first place," said Mr. Burns, " this question of giving preference to unionists is not a new one ; it originally came up at a meeting of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce some considerable time back It was owing to a dispute in the boot trade in Auckland that a discussion on the subject took place." _ "What is your opinion, then, of the decision ?" queried the reporter. "The decision," said Mr. Burns, "is simply unendurable. It cannot possibly bo allowed to stand, for no British subject could possibly carry on business under these circumstances. If a man is to manage his business properly he must be the master of it. iio must be free to exercise his faculties for the common advantage of himself, his workmen, and the public at large. The man who has proper business instincts looks to the welfare of his business. Tho prosperity of a business, let it be a manufactory or otherwise, is a thing in which both the employer and employees should have a common interest. The object of a really good workman is to turn out the best, quality and tho greatest quantity of goods he can. Tho employer likewise has the same desire. But this decision giving a preference to trade unionists is practically ruinous. Trade unions, in my opinion, though I don't say that thev have not some good points, fail very badly in the respect that they drive away many of the best men. The tendency of trade unionism is to lessen the quantity of goods turned out. At the same time the quality becomes inferior." "Then you think. Mr. Burns, that more will yet be heard of this judgment ?" " I do. I fully expect that the case will come up before the Privy Council. And when they see that the decision is ruinous and vexatious, I feel suro they will give their judgment accordingly. The law must be changed, if this is law. The whole system of unionism is contrary to the laws of nature. When we consider how England has been built, it must readily be admitted that it was by the survival of the fittest. This decision will have the very opposite effect. By it many really excellent workmen, who decline to join the union, will have tl'.eir employment usurped by men who are much their inferiorsmen who are not anxious to excel at their trades. Trade unionism undoubtedly makes a man lethargic, and by the enforcement of the recent judgment, lam afraid that instead of the quality of work being improved, wo will find that the quality will greatly deteriorate. The nonassociated workman must suffer, and not only he but his employer. A non-unionist, no matter how skilled he may be, can now lose his position to a careless unskilled workman, who is a member of a union, if the case is taken to the Arbitration Court. This is manifestly unfair, and the result of it will be that the employers, in each separate branch of the trade, will combine for their mutual defence, for in theso days of competition every man must make the best use of the faculties God gave him. The decision to all intents and purposes means war." Our reporter afterwards visited the Pioneer Boot Factory, and had a conversation with Mr J. Trenwith upon the same subject. ' Mr -Trenwith, in answer to a question as to the justice of the Arbitration Court being allowed to give a preference to unionist workmen, said be considered the law, as interpreted, a most unjust one. "What are your reasons for thinking so.' asked the reporter. "Well." said Mr. Trenwith, "let me revert back to the strike which occurred in the boot trade some vears ago. The strike, as you will remember, lasted for six months, 'and the majority of the men, who v/ere unionists, left their employment. Many of these men, who were steady and industrious, bad accumulated their savings in the bank, but of course during the strike they had to withdraw their money. Numbers of these men who were bound down to continue the strike were so disgusted with the behaviour of the union that thev declared they would rather leave their employment than be compelled to belong to the union. These men recognised that, in the unions were many useless fellows. That is the great objection I have to tho decision. The unions contain manv idle, worthless fellow?, who, as a result'of this judgment, may obtain a preference over a really skilled man who is not associated. Men will not join unions if they are doing that whicb_ they find their consciences disapprove of." In answer to further questions Mr. Iranwith said he did not think a non-unionist would be willing to work for a less wagethan the unionist. There was in the boot trade employment for everyone at present. The men were well paid, and the employers dared not, nor would they desire to, give them less wages than they are at present earning. , ...