TRADES UNIONISM: YESTERDAY AND TO-DAY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18050, 25 September 1920, Page 4

TRADES UNIONISM: YESTERDAY AND TO-DAY.

TO THE EDITOH. Sir,—My languid interest auent the a'hoye was aroused by Bishop Nevill's contribution to your columns, dated September 18. Unionism sprang into being owing to the awful destitution ol workers in the various occupations. Their raison d'etre was better working conditions and remuneration. Owing to difficulties, victimisation being one, of obtaining members, benefits were dispensed These were a direct help to the State, and finally swept away much of the prejudice against combinations of workers. After some years there arose- restless intellects who sought to turn non-political unions' aims into seeking Parliamentary representation, while others pinned their faith to good industrial organisation, with the power to cease work if the members' economic status was endangered. It is the- latter position which is being attacked, often from thoughtlessness, throughout modern society. However generous private enterprise may be now, it is indisputable that in the past the claims of wage-earners have received scant consideration. Mostly they were told that industry would be ruined by shorter hours and higher pay. Lo-day, owing to Government inflation of credit, allkd to greed of evory description, M-βtad most workers' purchasing power curtailed, however much they may flaunt their nominal wages. They cannot build a house because of failure to pay an economic rent this showing clearly the break-down of tho system, or lack of it, under which we live to-day. When otir temporary prosperity is followed by trade depression the lot of tho wage-earner with a family will bo an •unenviable one. Whether we like to admit it or not, war 19 the outcome of commercialism. War to-day is responsible for most of tho troubles which beset us, and unless wo can find some other way of settling differences the next war will work our total ruin To the student it is obvious that industrial strife resembles warfare, and that the casualties are numerous. When a well-organised union seeks advantage at tha expense, of fellowcitizens, it may declare war, but can it possibly wait until every laggard union and individual comes into lineV To suppress -every agitation cannot make for progress, but would result in a, eullen race which would ultimately burst into rebellion. To be quite frank, ths workers are in an unfortunate position, Wauso they cannot in tho end improve their position without reducing their employers' profits. This every decent employee is loth to do, knowing in many instances these arc but tho wages of superintendence, and are more than earned. ,7r™Tn T bem =, llnl ia»ted, it may be ThaT it r \VT°i produclion wUI right society. That it will help cannot bo denied, but to f« iSiT W f nttribute the wtH'B agony before 1914, when production was not curtailed w"? Did not the error lie in unequal and r a&*l > tiw to ««™olv«, and admit that private enterprise, with all its wonders, lias failed to graat to many worthy citizens -immunity from failure which ° rlSen ." nder coT f™ w ° ™ a,nto ™ «'at the fittest survrws? I do not think so. This is not the time to revile each other. We are not any of us directly responsible for the evils of o-day. Our utter helplessness individua ly i. because we are interdependent upon <L" other. The natural laws of supply and demand which your correspondent writes of are not operative in these days of land monopoly nW W Cial rcstrictiol « h«ve taken their place. We are assured by those who have made a close study of these questions that a solution will be found in the wHI [I' 0 P^ 1 , control.- All connected T'• ?M d , ay taow oi its inefficiency; and What jt and ought to do, if chance enables it. What is wrong with the co-operation of all useful men and women organised into guilds to preDunedin; September 20 JOHN S ' LoYDALr -

THE "ROAB HOG" ON RACE DAYS TO THE EDITOR who was prosecuted at tho Petone teate'e Court for exceeding tlfo S as provided in tie borough by-law "I ™ a motors myself, and the "council ouTt to gno a dispensation on race days to motorists and notify the public.-(La,Xor ) In tt,o present caso you are Xha^S^SSirL^cision are tantamount to a Xg that tht greater tho congestion.. of traffic (and conic! quently the greater tho risk to life 3 limb) the faster tho "xoad hog" sWdd be allowed to drive. Mr Hunt says he is a this reckloss c f ri v?ng £ *§§£ Si? H-Lri^n 28 a C 'T eful driTCI ' w y not be aoc UKxl of biaTSsT etther\Z I make- tho emphatic suggestion that tt» 1 should lilro to add my quota to tho oft repeated cmnplainte of unUghted vehidos on country, roads. That thero aro not moreiLcT dents m this direction is a marvel, and mir immunity from numerous tragedies th" cause a due absolutely to tho careful driv! ?? " J h ?, avC , rag ° motori et- From the duver of tho slower-moving vehicle we set no help but jn tho event of accident the motorist,has abuse beapod upon his devoted head. This » a. matter in which borough and county oouncOe should co-operato as the day ,e paat when motoring was confined to that city feller."—l am, etc., H. T.