THE OTAGO TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3414, 20 August 1919, Page 8

THE OTAGO TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION.

PEACE ANf> POST-WAR PROBLEMS.

The annual report of the Board of Management of the Otago Typographical Union contains interesting reference to the general industrial situation. After a reference to the fact that the trade was good during the year, and only.one call—the first for a number of years—having been- made for unemployment allowance, and this for a short duration only. The board proceeds:—ln our last annual report we expressed the belief that the tide of war had definitely turned in our favour. We rejoice that this has been fully realised. We are deeply thankful for this result, whioh was made possible only by tha spirit of loyalty and self-sacri-fice of the whole of the Allied nations. The working classes formed the greater part of the fighting forces, and we have reason to Be thankful that they rose to the occasion and realised that they were fighting for a great cause. We lament tho faot that so great sacrifices—both in casualties and deaths —had to be made to conquer oun- foes, but the present and future generations will reap the rejoicing that a foe which has long been a menace to the peace of tho world has been vanquished and that once more peace reigns. We are proud of _ the part our Empire took in getting this result, and prouder still of the assistance given by our dominion. But while we join in these rejoicings: we must give thoughtful consideration to the problems whicli now confront the world. As an industrial union we require no apology for introducing this subject here. It is a live mbject, which demands the attention and consideration of every intelligent unionist. Previous to tho outbreak of the war there were signs of industrial unrest throughout the world. During the great conflict a truce was called in part, though not wholly. There is now peace with the nations, but there are unmistakable indications throughout the world that an industrial war is in progress. Many valuable lessons from actual experience were learned during the war. The nationalisation of industries was one of these, and an •\arnest" effort is now being made by tho [workers in Great Britain to put into operation principles which were found so benefcoial and essential in war time-, and those \X'ho oppose this will have a hard task to yhow just cause for their opposition. Opponents of these socialistic ideas will have fV& show better reasons for the perpetuation Vf the industrial relationship between the Employer and tho employed than were previously advanced. Tho world has come to the stago of realising that there must be a change, and the and exteat of that change is the problem which is exercising the mind of all jkjoughtful men to-day. Revolution against

the old order is rampant, and more so it* the older countries; but we in New Zealand are experiencing our sir-are. Although not here in such an acute form, there is no denying the fact that it is here, and there is n» saying how far it will spread. "^J* 8 depends to a large extent on whether the en-ployera are prepared to give sympathetic and practical consideration to the just claims of the workers 1o a greater share in the wealth created by industry. The workers justly maintain that were it ni for their efforts it would be impossible to create wealth, and they fail to see why a great part of that creation should go to maintain a section in affluence—a section which to a large extent never knows what it is to want money, enough to satisfy even luxurious desires—while the working section has often to go without enough to satisfy actual wants even on a penurious scale. This is more intensified at the present time, when the cost of living is so v .igh. It must be a j marvel to all thoughtful people who have a j heart at all how it is possible for some families to eke out an existence —it is only an existence, not a living—on the wages which are paid in some occupations. It must be an endlesj struggle for many a housewife to make both ends meet. The Creator never intended this, and it should be and must be altered. In this collection the profiteer is not altogether free from blame. Many men have made fortunes out of the abnormal conditions now prevailing. Too many, even in New Zealand have been churging more for their commodities than leaves a fair margin of profit. * They have enriched themselves at the expense of the worker, who has no commodity to sell except his labour, and when ho attempts in some small way to equalise matters he has to fight to get even a modicum of his desires. On the one hand the combination of employers—and almost all sectional industries have their combines or trusts —meet and decide among themselves the price they are to charge foT their articles. There are no beg pardons nor consultation with anyone outside their own ring as to what the price shall be. They have a monopoly, and they know it, and take fine care they act upon it in fixing selling prices. But why blame these people; rather blame the system which allows them to do it. And the people are responsible for this system, and should see that it is altered. On the other hand, the workers have to 1 bargain either through the court or by other method as to what they are to receive for their commodity—Labour. If one side has to do this, why should not the other? Can it be wondered at that our present system leadg to unrest? This may be one method of dealing with the problem of giving the workers a more even share in the wealth created. High or low wages matter little. What counts is how far real wages will go in supplying; the earner and his family with the ordinary requirements to live a full life and enjoy the good things whioh a bountiful Provl- J

dence has liberally provided for all. Nature supplies enough 'for all; it 19 the distribution which is at fault. There are those among the Labour Unionists who pin their faith on profitsharing as a solution of the industrial problem. It certainly is an advance on tho present system, but it is extremely doubtful if it comes anywhere approaching a complete solution. The most that can be said for it in its present form is that it is a step forward. Sectional profit-sharing must mean that those engaged by a firm which has made a profit are to share in this, while those engaged by a firm which has made no profit get nothing, although doing identical work. And what will happen when there is a. loss? The return for the product of labour should not rest on so unsound a basis as this. Then, again, if there is a profit.over the cost of production this must be at the expense of the buyer of the article produced. There is another phase of this proposed solution which we as trades unionists have to consider: It will tend to kill industrial unionism as we now know it. Once an employee becomes a prdfii-sharer, with an assured wage it will not be *of so much moment as at present what that wage shall be. He would be, although to a limited extent, a shareholder in the concern. But if this system were a complete it would not matter much if our trades union system did go overboard. Something in advance could be evolved. But thp sectional system as at present proposed, which is being put into operation by some firms, leads nowhere in giving a universally united and contented body of workers. If this desirable object for which we are all striving is to be attained profit-sharing will have to be on a larger scale than now proposed. Indeed, many go so far as to contend that nothing short of universal profit-sharing will bo satisfactory—in short, socialisation of all industries. There are many other suggested ways of dealing with the industrial unrest, but all of these seem to fall short of complete solution. Co-operation, which has been so successful in Great Britain, but which for some unknown reason has always failed in New Zealand, is one. Limiting the profits and incomes of individuals and businesses is another. No one appears to have the prescience to set out a clear course which others will follow with -the conviction that it will lead to solution. Many courses there are, but whether any of these will lead us to tho desired haven remains to be seen. Certain it is that the workers will never again be content until a larger share of the products of their labour is conceded to them, and the sooner the employing class wakes up to this fact and concedes it tho sooner will tho problem' be solved. No one wants this industrial strife to continue. Everybody who counts desires a contented people, where all can live in harmony without the continual recurrence of fighting employers through the court or otherwise, and tho mutual aloofness which tho process

engenders. This spirit is no good to anyone. But ho is indeed a wise man who can see daylight through the present industrial tangle, and can forecast with any degree of certainty what tho solution and outcome of it will be. All classes and all degress of intellect are engaged in trying to find a workable solution. The solution should not bo impossible, although difficult to foresee. Tho first step to a true solution is for' everyone—high and low, rich and poor, employer and employed—to get rid of the inherent selfishness in nabure, and approach the problem with tho altruistic spirit that they are out to better humanity and not out for their own individual gain. In short, chango the heart of man and his outlook of life. If we ever get this spirit, then we will have gone a long way to solve our industrial and other troubles. THE ARBITRATION COURT. Tlie court has raised wages and given bonuses to endeavour to meet the increased cost of living. This is certainly better than nothing, but it is far from a solution of the industrial problem. The root of the trouble is too deep, for this superficial method of curing it! Indeed, there are quite a number—and this number appears to be increasing—who are of opinion that the court has had its day, and that some more radical methods will have to bo adopted before the workers get anything approaching their fair share of the wealth created by the combined efforts of Capital and Labour. As an evidence of this feeling we have only to cite our own trade throughout the dominion.' A short year or two ago we were all loyal supporters of the court. To-day tho opinion of our federated unions is being taken as to whether it is advisable to cancel registration under the Arbitration Act. We canhot at present say what the immediate result of this opinion will be,' but it can with safety be said that, even although the majority decide against cancellation, it is no indication that this majority is satisfied with the court 'as a tribunal to equitably settle differences, but rather that it is prepared to give the court a further trial. The result of the ballot in our union was: For cancellation, 49; against cancellation, 25. Some mombers did not vote. In fairness to the court it is necessary to mention that the present unsatisfactory award and bonuses were agreed to at conferences with the employers and employees, and that all the court could he reasonably expected to do was to legally ratify these agreements, which it did. The receipts of the union during the year were £169 Os 7d and the expenditure £IOB 5s Id, leaving a profit of £6O 15s 6d, of which £44 was credited to clearance account. The assets of the union amount to £741 18s 6d.