COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24084, 1 October 1941, Page 4

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

Sir, —Alient your recent leader on "A Bad Scheme," you appear to accept the "right and principle of collective bargaining." But, after all, isn't it just rule by force—part of a groat hurly-burly in which we are all wrestling to get on top? First one party and then another holds the advantage. But force is the weapon of conquerors, and where the vanquished are ruled by force irrespective of their rights discontent must follow. Britain's success as a colonising nation lies in her consideration for those in her power. When are we going to learn that only a governing body that rules in this same spirit can give satisfaction ? Party unions, in polities or elsewhere, are inevitable; hut no party is going to lead us into anything like stable social conditions until it can administer political affairs in the same impartial spirit as —thank God—we are used to seeing British justice administered. Just fancy the British Judica-

ture under political party control. Yet that is where we stand politically, and that is where we stay until we are prepared to put and keep a goodwill Government in power. Collective hargnining cannot get. us out of the difficulty: like money, it can be used for good or ill. The higher blessings of society depend more on the spirit of forbearance than so much demanding our own. The application of a little grace to the machinery of our social and political relationships would take out a great deal of the squeak and friction. Step Up.