INDUSTRIAL SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16903, 16 July 1918, Page 6

INDUSTRIAL SERVICE.

LABOUR'S ALTERNATIVE. OPINION OF RECENT CONGRESS. The congress of trades unions, held in Wellington a few days ago, the principal resolutions of which were published in yesterday's Herald, and over which Mr. T. Bloodworth, of Auckland, presided, was an outcome of th& legislation passed by Parliament in its April session. Mr. Bloodworth said yesterday that the congress did not consider that industrial conscription was either necessary or in the best interests of the community. The congress had stated its appreciation of the crisis through which New Zealand, in common with other countries, was passing. The new conditions made for the necessity for scientific organisation of the full resources of the State in order to minimise the chances of chaos and starvation on a large scale. The mode of raising loans, which were largely made up of private banking credit, for which high rates of Interest had to be paid was criticised. Private banks, it was maintained, by making advances on war bonds, had assisted in methods of finance that not only meant using tho public credit, for private gain, but had been responsible for inflation of the currency, and a general rise in prices against the State itself, as well as against iU citizens.

Further, tho conference demanded tho institution of a system of finance based on the taking of all community-created land values, as well as all incomes above DiJOO a year during the war period. The payment by the Government of a 6um exceeding the value of tho vessels hired, for the use of such vessels, was stigmatised as extravagance and inefficiency, which could only be remedied by the public ownership of the principal means of transport. Again, the shortage in the world's wheat supply and other foodstuffs, and the possibility of a world famine, was put forward as a ground for the immediate public ownership of all sources of supply, for the purpose of increasing tho production and conservation of the necessaries of life.

In direct answer to the suggestion for the compulsory utilisation of labour tho congress affirmed tys opinion that this step could only bo justified on the ground that the citizens have refused to give their services for industrial purposes. That, it considered, was not applicable to the wageearning class, whose economic status compelled them to work or starve. Therefore, the voluntary registration of all labour, and its scientific application to public enterprise, was declared to be the demand of the hour.

Mr. Bloodworth referred to the proposal for the constitution of a national industrial council, as a kind of industrial parliament and court of appeal, to decide disputes voluntarily brought bofore it, rind make suggestions for the guidance of the local councils formed in each industrial district. It was laid he said, that tho decisions of the National Council should not have the force of law, or be regarded as arbitrary, it being recognised that freedom of action is the basis of th«o proposals, the workers retaining their right to withhold their labour, and the employers their right to refuse access to the factories, subject only to the rules of their respective national industrial organisations. Mr. Bloodworth said the decisions of the recent conference would bo discussed by conferences to be held in tho chief centres of New Zealand, and that another Dominion conference would be held afterwards to formulate a national programme.