SYMPATHY FOR LABOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 3862, 20 March 1928, Page 72

SYMPATHY FOR LABOUR.

WHAT ABOUT THE PUBLIC?

Contributed by the New Zealand Welfare League.

From time to time the cry ia raised by adherents of the Labour Party that not sufficient sympathy ia shown towards the workers. The appeal goes even further, and takes the form of charging everyone who does not agree with any course a section of workers may take of being “ against Labour.” If whilst professing every concern for the continuance of conciliation and arbitration, the unions wink at the constantlyrecurring petty strikes which are taking place, how can the public be expected to have much concern for labour? As a matter of fact, the public in general.has a great deal of sympathy- with the workers where they play the game as men, and do not act like spoiled children expecting to have everything their own way no matter how it may injure other people. There is a great body of working men and women in the Dominion for whom we have full respect, and every sympathy in their troubles. They carry oh peacefully, and behave as reasonable citizens. These workers, however, are not so often picked out and referred to as “ Labour ” as is the case with the malcontent, milh tant, and “ care for nobody but ourselves class” that forces its way into the limelight of newspaper publicity. _ln various communities up and down New Zealand the public has shown its sympathv with the workers in a practical way by subscribing largely to funds for the unemployed. Labour has been helped materially in this and other ways, and for the most part the men assisted have “ played the game.” At the same time there is . section of Labour here and ii; Australia that appears to be utterly selfish, and cares nothing for anybody. This class is in evidence more particularly in the transport industries. They let it be known that there are numbers of seamen, firemen, cooks, and stewards out of work, and sympathy from the public is claimed on that account. What are they doing themselves to make things better? “ HOLDING UP ” TRANSPORT.

Scarcely a day passes but we read in the press of some ship or other being held up. In Auckland the cooks and stewards aboard the Marama refused to sail if a member of the crew who had been dismissed after appearing in the Police Court was not reinstated. The Ulimaroa is prevented from sailing by the cooks' galley staff, backed by the union. In Dunedin the Manuka is held up to the great inconvenience of 270 passengers. What is notable is that the members of these callings are supposed to be working under awards or agreements which are designed to obviate stoppages of trade. The unions have some responsibility in the matter of these frequent stoppages of sailings. In practice we have conciliation, plus the big stick, arbitration and strikes alternatively. As far as this industry is concerned the coming joint industrial conference, coni...ed by the Prime Minister, might consider whether it cannot be settled to have trade continued whilst matters of dispute are discussed and determined.

As far as appearances go,' each of these occasions on which a vessel is held up is entirely distinct and separate from all others. Still, the frequency of these stoppages must lead people to the conclusion that there is concerted action in some way or other. As the unions are recognise! in all branches of this marine work, they should either voluntarily exercise, or be compelled to exercise, a disciplinary control over the members of their organisations. So long as the unions neglect to control their members in the direction of industrial peace, and the shipping companies enter into agreements with those who countenance guerilla warfare, will this holding up of transport continue.

THE PUBLIC SUFFERS. Ihe Government invites tourists to visit New Zealand. It should tell them they are liable to be blocked at any time by Labour unionists. By the Ulimaroa inciuent Sir Robert Horne was forced to cancel hi s engagements and shut out of New Zealand.

a lie Manuka wrangle stops 270 passengers from travelling. Busiuess undertakings which may be very important, have to ba set aside. A isits which are national in their import are upset. The ordinary person, who for health, pleasure or other reasons require to travel may all without any notice be made to suffer. All these and many other wrongs are inflicted on the public by what is called “ Labour,” and the said public is invited to have full sympathy with “Labour.” Why not have reciprocity in this matter and let Labour show its full sympathy with the general public. If the marine unions would discipline their members seas to prevent these constant stoppages, or the Labour Party and Alliance of Labour condemn the policy of industrial pin-prick-ing, then Labour would bo more highly thought of. A short time ago the officers of all these Labour organisations waited on the Prime Minister and pleaded eloquently that New Zealand ships should be put into commission, and New Zealand marine workers (of whom large numbers were reported as unemployed) should be thus given employment. What- a chance was missed of asking these Labour leaders what they are prepared Io do in the '.way of protecting the travelling public. There is no guarantee if trade is done in New Zealand ships that these will not be held up at times because of some trivial reason which carries no weight. Mr Coates might have asked the members of the deputation whether they would be ready to prevent the public from being victimised by the holding up of New Zealand ships. It is the public which suffers on all occasions from the non-sailing of the ships. When they are called on to sympathise with Labour, it is right to make the domau-4 that Labour shall consider the public. It' is time to emphasise the fact that Labour has duties as well as rights, for it is bad even for them to think otherwise. They cannot hold -up trade and have aft the employment they want.