UNIONISM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22464, 7 July 1936, Page 13

UNIONISM

Sir, —Through the present Govern- , jnenfc unionism has succeeded in ob- ! taining legislation that makes it illegal for any employer to engage any worker who is* not a member of some industrial union, and thereby it is designed to j compel every worker to become <i | unionist or forfeit his right to employ- ! rnent. Now to demand that a worker shrill become a unionist or be deprived | of bis right to employment is carrying things a long way too far; in fact, the law which they bnve succeeded in getting through is one of the most unjust laws ever placed upon the Statue Hooks of the Dominion and is 110 credit cither to unionism or Parliament. There are many workers —honest, upright and respectable citizens —who are conscientiously opposed to linking up with labour unions on the grounds that the principles and practices of such unions are not in harmony with the principles of Christianity. Christianity teaches men to love their neighbours and even to lovo their enemies. But unionism, as past experience has proved and as everyone well knows —and none better than unionists themselves—is not conducive of lovo and goodwill, but very decidedly creates antagonism, division, hatred and strife of the most bitter nature and, further, manifests an utter disregard for the rights of others. They are trampling upon a. right that no government on earth or organisation of men have any authority or right to meddle with, and that is the right of a man to live. This is a God-given right. And in depriving any man of his right to employment—the means by which ho is enabled to live —it is tantamount to depriving him, and, if married, his wife and children also, of that right to live. The first conscientious objector has already been dismissed, and that from a Government job, and unionist secretaries havo warned many others that unless they join the unions they, likewise, will ho put out of their jobs, and thus they are to bo deprived of their means of livelihood. And this in a civilised country. Where is our boasted British freedom and fair play? It is the duty of legislators to protect the weak against the strong, to protect the minority against oppression by the majority. lint tjiis they have riot clone. Hut they havo done what they absolutely have 110 right to do. They have no right under any circumstances whatever to filch from any man his right to employment which enables him to live and support his family. Democrat.