PREFERENCE TO UNIONISTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2561, 15 April 1903, Page 22

PREFERENCE TO UNIONISTS.

THE NEW ZEALAND EMPLOYERS'

FEDERATION'S OBJECTIONS.

The New Zealand Employers' Federation, in a circular letter- just issued, submits the> following 10 reasons against the proposal to confer upon unionists, by legislation, compulsory preference of employment: — (1) The total membership of registered trade unions in New Zealand is about 17,000 (including 2900 members of the- Amalga- ' mated Society of Railway. Servants), while there are at least 55,000 workers in our factories alone, to say .nothing of those employed in unclassified industries. Com- ■ pulsory preference to unionists would mean that- 55,000- intelligent workers would be r subjected to the despotic rule of a smalLi minority of their number. ' Surely a strange development of democracy.

(2) The Court of Arbitration has the Jpower to grant preference to unionists, •nd has in many cases done so, where the ■circumstances warranted it. The court has 3xercised this power with much discretion, and to deprive it of its right would seriously lessen its influence, besides removing a wholesome check upon, unionism. (3) The Court of Arbitration, in the exercise of the foregoing power, has imde certain regulations to prevent the unions becoming close corporations to the injury of the several tradea. If the court can no longer impose such regulations, further legislation will be necessary to ensure union, rules being framed to provide for admission on reasonable terms of respectable and competent workers, and protect the interests of youths, and of incompetent, aged, and infirm men.

[* (4) If oompuloory preference of employment is granted to unionists, compulsory preference of service should be grantetl to unions of employers. If the master's right to employ is restricted, it is no more than reasonable that the worker's right to work should also be similarly restricted. (5) Compulsory unionism means increased co3t of production, owing to higher wage?, shorter hours, and limitation of output. This is obvious so far as higher wages and , shorter hours are concerned, . and it is ' .equally true that the product, of a jjrven number of' workers under 'union authority is" less than that of an equal number .of free workers. Limitation "of output ia a wellrecognised principle of trade uuionism, Tnd t adds enormously to cost of production(6) Increased cost jf production means that the consumer has to pay more for his house, Ms food, his clothing. It is a well-known' fact th»t the cost of ' living " has greatly increased of late years, and this is largelydue to selfish and short-sighted unionist aggression. (7) Manufacturers are in some cases able to cover increased cost by raising the price* of their productions and making th-s public pay the piper; but the largest industry ia the colony — agricultural — cannot so protect itself, seeing that prices of farm produce depend upon foreign markets. (8) In certain trades increased cost of production has seriously diminished employment, and importation is supplanting local manufacture. This cannot but react prejudicially upon the colony, for, though th© individual wage may be higher, gross earnings are reduced, and fewer workers employed.

(9) Unionism seeks its own advantage first, last, and all the time, and is blind and deaf to the interests of employers or pubh'c. The overbearing greed of civil servants nnd trade councils has aroused public resentment ia Victoria, and precipitated a political crisis. There is a grave daiisrerof a similar state of things arising in New Zealand. Unrefctricted»unionism is undoubtedly a menace to the State.

(10) Compulsory preference to unionistswould specially affect retail traders. A • retail shopman must not only know his • business, but he must be trustworthy, and • must possess a good appearance and good address. It Is quite obvious that a. trade union can take no account of the two latter qualifications in the choice of its members, while it is equally obvious that the employer must do so, and . a clash ■» bstjveen employers and union is sooner or later inevitable.

About 20 men whe were unable to find pleeping accommodation in Christchurch_ oa Saturday were compelled to soend the nigb% iv the etreets.