THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22905, 12 June 1936, Page 3

THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD

NEWS AND NOTES

By J. T. Pall,

Freedom and discipline alone can make a living and vivifying democracy. Freedom without discipline soon degenerates into licence, by which many a State has perished. Discipline witnout freedom will make in time a nation of slaves. Freedom will give the spirit and discipline the responsibility. —Mr Baldwin. A RECORD SESSION. In the history of New Zealand politics there has never been a session more fruitful of far-reaching legislation than that which has been adjourned until July 21. Since the opening on March 25 most important Acts have been passed affecting national finance, trade, industry in all its branches, and some of the most intimate interests of the people have been vitally affected. The amendments to the labour laws are of particular interest, and their full effects and ultimate mictions are eagerly discussed and awaited in some quarters with a considerable degree of uncertainty. In purely trade union circles there is a little competition for the control of certain bodies ol workers. A contest is priceeding in the north regarding the place and merits of workers' guilds and trades unions. At a meeting attended by some 00 persons held in the Auckland Trades Hall a resolution emphatically condemning the alleged action of employers in forcing employees into the guild movement and calling upon the Minister of Labour to refuse to register guilds was carried. . Mr M. J. Clark, organiser of the Clerical Employees' Union, said many firms were persuading their employees to form guild*, although some employers were against such organisations. The Employers' Federation had sent out a circular suggesting the. formation of guilds. Employees were being told that if a "shop union" or guild were formed all concerned would be able to work in harmony. They also were being told that if they joined outside unions all the privileges they enjoyed at present would disappear. " If the Minister of Labour, who has to consent to the registration of a guild, says he does not favour guilds, what are you nfraid of? " asked a member of the audience of the chairman. The chairman replied that the Minister of Labour and the Prime Minister had definitely made statements against guilds, yet the employers had insisted that warehousemen should form a guild, so evidently those behind the guild movement expected some support, although it was difficult to appreciate their reatons. Replying to a question regarding the position of a driver who joined a guild, the chairman said it would be very unfortunate, as he would doubtless be ostracised by other uniona. To a further question as to what power a union under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act would have to close its ranks to a guild member, the chairman said that some unions had special clauses in their constitutions to refuse membership to any person. The Waterside Workers' Union, for example, had such power under the Act. Unions had refused membership in the past. He could not Hay what would happen in the future to guild members wanting to come into trade unions.

The chairman also said that agreements with' employers by guilds might not confer the benefits of the 40 hours' week or other benefits of the legislation, especially the minimum rates of wages.

A VETERAN HONOURED. The recent appointment of Mr J. A. M'Cullough as a member of the Legislative Council baa met with verv general satisfaction, and the Riecurton branch of the Labour Party has entertained him and made a presentation. His position as workers' representative on the Arbitration Court brought him into contact with trade union leaders, and his close association with workincr* class organisation has made him a familiar figure. In acknowledging the honour Mr M'Cullough said the social was a double one for him, as it coincided with the fiftyfirst anniversary of his wedding. The first time in his life that he had not obtained a position that he desired was in 1921. when he stood as a candidate for member of Parliament for Riecarton. He had his revenge now. however. \w the principle of controlling tbe issue of credit for the. advantage of the people, which he had advocated then, had now been put into oncration bv the Labour Party. This. he said, was one of the finest pieces of work the party had done. The newspapers and capitalists had not realised vet what had struck them, but in a year or two. when thev did. the Labour Party would need the loyalty of all the people in New Zealand.

EMPLOYMENT FOR BOYS. The different attitude from which the problem of boys' employment will have to be fa.wl in the future was emphasised at the annual meeting of the Auckland Boys' Employment Committee (savs the Auckland Star). In presenting the annual report and balance sheet, which showed a slight debit balance, the secretary of the committee said that instead of having scores of boys clamouring for anv sort of position this year the committee had been able to fill only a little over half of the numerous positions offering. In addition to this improved demand lor boy labour there had been a decided improvement in prospects, types of positions, starting wanes and General conditions.

While extending their congratulations to the committee on the work that had been accomplished, many of the educationists and business men present were of the opinion that the work of the committee was finished and that the time had come for it to disband. After a lengthv discussion it was decided to continue for the next few months at least until advice was received from the Government concerning certain proposals that had been forwarded for its consideration. A suggestion was put forward that the activities of the committee should bo carried on by the Auckland Youths' Farm .Settlement Board. Mr Gribble pointed out that this settlement scheme catered only for 50 boys, and the board would not be able to spend its funds, which were for a definite purpose, as the committee was able to do. Most of the business men present, however, were of the opinion that the activities of the committee were no longer necessary, and that it should cease to exist before its record became dimmed.

AMERICAN SOCIALIST PARTY. Communists, either individually or in groups, will not be admitted into the new political party to be formed b" the Old Guard wing of the Socialist Party, according to Mr Louis Waldman, former Michigan State chairman. Mr Waldman declared that members of the Old Guard faction, defeated by the Left Wing Socialists under the leadership of Norman Thomas, would hold a State convention in June Or July to form a new party in this State " along broad democratic lines."

"All groups and individuals who accept a Socialist programme will be welcome," Mr Waldman said. " This party will seek to make its appeal to the broad masses, to the white-collar workers, trade unionists, unorganised manual workers, and socially-minded and liberty-loving people generally." Mr Waldman denied the assertion of Harry W. Laidler, Socialist State chairman, "that there were no fundamental questions of principle or tactics dividing the two Socialist groups. "Ts there no difference" he asked, "between the Old Guard and the Left Win"' when the Left Wing stands by the Detroit Declaration of .Principles with its provisions for massed resistance to war, its pronouncement in favour of dictatorship, its pledge to assume power, whether or not the Socialist Party has a majority, in the event of 'chaos and confusion,' —principles to which the Old Guard is bitterly opposed?" Mr Waldman asserted that the Left Wing group was using Dr Laidler as an "innocent front" to nominate Mr Thomas for president and bring the Socialist Party into closer alliance with the Communists.