PEACE IN INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19808, 1 December 1927, Page 10

PEACE IN INDUSTRY.

The first of its kind in the history of British industry—so is described the conference called by a large group of British employers. If it should be held and should get to business in the right spirit, it may even mark a new era. It is its comprehensive nature that gives it this importance. The whole of British industry is not involved. There is no wholly practicable means of bringing the round-table idea to bear on so grand a scale. But the "large group of employers," presumably representing the industries whose employees furnish, more or less directly, the membership of iiie Trades Union Congress, have taken a momentous step in inviting thi's body to send delegates to meet them. The congress does not embrace the unions of all British industries, but it is the largest inclusive organisation. It will be remembered that its council directed the general strike of last year, being proud to declare that the response to its call "had exceeded all expectations, and had brought to a standstill all the essential industries and all the transport services." The council's acceptance of the invitation is expected; and this action, even if hedged about with conditions, will enable certain cardinal issues to be faced. The conditions suggested should not hamper friendly discussion. It is understood that they stipulate the discussion's limitation to general principles and place the onus of making proposals on the employers. Unless there be more in thesg conditions than meets the eye, they will allow the inviting employers all the liberty they seek to reach an understanding, always supposing their proposals to be received in a spirit of conciliation. It is promising that the overture has had even a tentative welcome. After the salutary experience of the general strike the authority mainly responsible for it should be ready to discuss industrial questions in a more amiable frame of mind, and it may be hoped that it will prove eager to collaborate in devising ways of securing peace in British industry. *