THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTH CROSS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1914. THE INDUSTRIAL FUTURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15513, 21 January 1914, Page 8

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTH CROSS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1914. THE INDUSTRIAL FUTURE.

The crushing defeats met by syndicalism wherever it has measured its strength against organised society should have convinced all reasonable men of its folly. In no British country has it scored even the appearance of a victory, and it is inconceivable that it can ever lead unions to aught but disaster. Its record in South Africa is much the same as its record in New Zealand, making due allowance for the difference in industrial conditions and national development. Civilised society is strong enough to protect itself against the sinister attacks planned by a mere handful of irresponsible and incompetent agitators, whose influence lies in the readiness of ephemeral unions to move in a body without any intelligent realisation of the situation they provoke. News from South Africa indicates that the entire community is relieved and gratified by the prompt collapse of the syndicalist outbreak when confronted by determined government and indignant public opinion ; our experience in New Zealand enables us to under-

stand completely this brightening of the industrial, horizon.. Practical demonstration of the hollowness of syndicalist pretensions immediately restores to a British community— and the Dutch Africander is racially akin to the British— normal and natural conception of constitutional progress. The average worker, who has been terrorised and deluded into reluctant participation J~ an alien and reactionary movement, is as much released from a distasteful position as is the employer, the merchant, or the farmer who has felt the industrial unrest hanging overhead like a sword of Damocles. None know better than the industrious and peaceable worker that the syndicalist movement—like all movements which depend upon lawless violence and disreputable methods—brings to the top the worst element and gives tyrannical power to men utterly unfit to have any power whatever. We have only to look at the industrial conditions prevailing in the lands where syndicalism was conceived and from which syndicalist apostles generally come, to realise that it is unworthy of the tolerance of any free and democratic people. Its triumph in our British lands over the orderly and national processes by which social progress is attained would be tantamount to the triumph of imported Mafia methods over British law and order. British law is not perfect, but it embodies a loyal and persistent national effort towards equity and security, and is therefore wholly deserving of the reverence with which all good citizens regard it; anarchic methods, on the other hand, are inherently false and evil, subordinating equity to strength and cunning and condemning all peaceful and industrious persons to the extortions of "Black Hand" organisations- The defeat of syndicalism is a victory for constitutional progress, not in the slightest degree a victory for forces arrayed against progress, equity and justice.

For many years British industrial progress has been consciously directed towards the attainment of an equitable and acceptable solution of the industrial problem. This admirable movement has been in no way confined to the establishment of arbitration. It has worked along a number of converging lines, having for its purpose the establishment of such just and humane conditions in industry as will enable the great transformation of industrial society necessitated by the development of machinery to be accomplished without ultimate injury to the individual or disaster to the state. The essential principle underlying this movement is both national and Christian, for it is impossible.that the state can be strong and cohesive unless every citizen feels that the national organisation secures to him and to his children an honourable living in return for industry and loyalty. Reasonable hours of work, fair wages, decent conditions when working, and comfortable homes, with assurance against want in sickness and age and the greatest possible opportunity for education and advancement, have been the goal of | progressive British statesmen since Lord Shaftesbury carried the first Factory Act through the House of Lords two long generations ago. Our British oversea dominions have steadily kept this goal in view, and in spite of inevitable mistakes and unintentional shortcomings have made a progress which entitles them to the loyalty and affection of their peoples. Our progress in New Zealand has reached a point when we may reasonably expect to eliminate strikes from among industrial possibilities and Mr. Massey's statesmanlike and practical measure has advanced the expectation almost to confidence. That syndicalism should have obtained footing in this democratic Dominion, should have spread like an epidemic among certain unions, and should have been able to revive wholesale striking as an applauded if not approved factor in industrial problems was monstrous. Nevertheless, there are obvious compensations. The heart of the average worker is certainly not in a strike even when he is involved; the sympathy of the average worker is certainly not with syndicalism; the conviction of the average worker is certainly that strikes can be avoided and ought to be avoided. Mr- Massey, when again able to apply himself with his wonted energy to administrative business, may be relied upon to take advantage of this very favourable opportunity to re-establish industrial arbitration in popular favour. Tact, patience and sympathy are supremely necessary in dealing with industrial questions, for it is a grave mistake to assume that abstract justice in itself appeals to disappointed men. If moderate and reasonable workmen would sufficiently interest themselves in the affairs of their unions employers would be encouraged in the friendly and conciliatory attitude they are generally desirous of displaying and most questions could be mutually arranged and adjusted. In the cases requiring judicial decision there cannot be any grounds for irremediable dissatisfaction on either side if all parties remember that our progress is a thing of steady growth and patient work, is the product of a national spirit fundamentally opposed to anarchy, violence and syndicalism.