THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1912. THE REMEDY , FOR STRIKES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14930, 1 March 1912, Page 6

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1912. THE REMEDY , FOR STRIKES.

Upon the question that "" something" should be attempted to ameliorate the industrial unrest which is so acute and so universal at the present time there will be cordial and sincere agreement. It may be easier.for the moment to regard the industrial storms which are sweeping round the world as manifestations of uncontrollable forces which cannot be understood or dealt with; but this fatalistic attitude is not only alien to the principles upon which civilisation is based, but is bound to lead to disaster. Some alleviation may be found in, dealing wisely, and firmly with troubles as they arise, and this, of course, is the traditional British method. In the United Kingdom the Government is straining every nerve to avoid the crowning evil of a general stoppage of coal mining, and — latest information—with some prospect of success. At Brisbane the State authorities have successfully coped with the danger of civil strife arising from an ill-advised general strike of the " syndical" type. In Auckland we are still exposed to the threat of a general strike," managed by the Federation of Labour, and it is indicative of the times that the Federation is making a stand against the employment of those legal arbitration and conciliation . methods which were intended to do away with strikes by securing an acknowledged- place in industrialism to Labour organisations. When tho matter came up at the City. Council last night it was made plain that the municipality, while ready to deal fairly and generously with its employees, would not submit to any dictation from a body of unregistered unions, and it is to be hoped that the reasonable position unitedly taken by .employ will help to check the spread of an industrial anarchy. But this plan of dealing with ' troubles it ■, they' arise is neither satisfactov nor safe, for it leaves untouched and unremedied what we must treat as great common causes for these widespread upheavals. There may always be differences of opinion between employers and employed when the conditions of employment are being discussed and considered, but the kindliest of feelings and the most genuine of mutual appreciations can exist together with temporary and debatable differences. What should not exist, and what, obviously, need not necessarily exist, is the profound discontent which leads great bodies of industrious men to strike deadly blows at the industries whereby they live. What wc ought to have and what is surely, possible is that a mutual regard for the hardships of ,life and for the difficulties of management should lead employers and employed to meet one another with confidence and cordiality, and to arrange in definite form working agreements which neither would break, and under which industry could be safely carried on.

Speaking yesterday at the annual luncheon of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Leo Myers repeated his appeal for a Royal Commission of a representative character to inquire into the industrial problem as it exists in New Zealand, and for a [trial of the Canadian system of enlisting public opinion as an arbiter in threatened disputes of a serious character. 'We have already pointed out that, the problem is too huge and too universal to be solved by any investigations made in any one country. But it is also true that every genuine and intelligent investigation contributes towards the ulti-. mate solution, and. we can unhesitatingly approve of a Commission on the lines suggested by the president of the Chamber of Commerce. The difficulty with almost all Commissions is that they are lamentably •unrepresentative of the interests involved, and wofully loaded with members who have no real grasp of the problems to be considered. The industrial problem is more harassed and confused by sciolistic commentators than any other problem known to human kind. The world is full of individuals who imagine that they can settle in a sentence or with'a' nostrum troubles that have their "roots in the foundations of human society and are accentuated by the. infinite complexities arid specialisations of a stupendous civilisation. But if a reasonably intelligent and ,. sympathetic Commission were! appointed it ought to increase our knowledge of industrial conditions, even though it failed to offer any practical solution; and only by- better knowledge can the final solution be hoped for. < The virtues of the Canadian-.system and

whether it is adapted to local circumstances might well be considered by such a Commission There is at least this hopeful feature in New Zealand industrialism that the empl6yers honestly and sincerely desire to assist in the permanent establishment and maintenance of humane and civilised conditions. They object to strikes and disturbances, and they resent any attempt to intimidate or terrorise them; but they aspire to carry on industry by the aid of prosperous and contented workmen, whose hearts are in their work, and who do not think of the employer as an enemy to be attacked whenever he can be caught at a disadvantage.