PREFERENCE TO UNIONISTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15650, 2 July 1914, Page 4

PREFERENCE TO UNIONISTS.

Sir,— unions have helped to do some good in the past, and, if sanely managed, they may do good in future. Of themselves they have not done, and cannot do, any practical good. Aided by a powerful, independent, vigilant,, and humane newspaper press, also by the platform and tho Church, tiado unionists have secured shorter hours of toil, better sanitation, and dining conveniences in factories, protection against dangerous machinery, ajid noxious odours, compensation for accidents, better wages, the abolition of tho truck system, and humaner industrial conditions. It was the press, and that vast body of men outside of trade unions, whic.i aroused public attention, quickened the people's conscience, and energised Parliament to promote industrial and labour betterment. A sane .trade unionist policy will retain the support, of thoso very powerful forcer, in every industrial struggle for the right. Society generally, and employers particularly, bar a few exceptions, which prove the rule, want workers to get fair and just remuneration for their labour. It should to borne in mind by trade unionists, and frankly admitted by non-socialists, because it is demonstrably true, _ that a long-sustained and earnestsocialist propaganda helped trade unionists immensely long before there was any serious thought of capturing the unions! Unfortunately, one bad effect of trade unionist victories was to harden tho policy of trade unionists against, non-unionists, and to lead the former to discard tho old trade unionism wherein skill was a nine qua non, for labour unionism leading to Labour Federation and tending • to syndicalism. Instead ol the socialist maxim • " Each for all and ail for each," the maxim liecame: "Each union for itself." Nonunionists and the employers bt»eame regarded as he common enemy. Preference to unionists led to unexpected and very bad results. Antagonism and distrait arose. _ Restrictions on labour d< pressed enterprise, caused unemployment, aad fathers could teach their sons their trado and emplcv them only by the subterfuge of "partnerships." Employers became 1 initio to bo sued in Court and mulcted in damages for employing relatives, friends, and needy persons instead of trade unionists. _ Such a system ..s humiliating and unfair. It causes unnecessary hardship, leaves toe much to paid officials with limited knowledge of trade and industry, and too little of that rare factor—ability to lead large bodies of organised men. It violates a law of nature requiring that men shall work or starve, and a Divine law requiring that six days shall a man labour and earn his bread by the sweat of his brow. Tho Parliament that passed the statute giving preference to unionists was deluded into believing a mis-state-ment, and tho public which has teen mis led into sanctioning and supporting it, has done, and still does, a national wrong. Tho people are inequitably lending tho whole influence and power of the State to enforce for trade unionists a law whereby a, small section the community pre vents any man 01 woman from earning their daily bread until trade unionists have had first pick in the labour market. It is proved unworkable in Australia, and it will never bear the strain of a trado depression of any magnitude. It will break down hero when the people realise that they are supporting a cruel tyranny,, F. G. EWKGIO".