Mr James Mills on Unionism.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6384, 27 November 1890, Page 3

Mr James Mills on Unionism.

Mr James Mills, Manager of the Union S.B, Company, a candidate for Fort Chalmers, m an address on Monday night spoke at some length on the position of his company in relation to the late strike, and in relation to the trade of the colony. After giving his opinion on the cause and course of the strike, and the boycot of the company, he spoke as follows on Unionism generally. His remarks may be read with the more interest, from the position he holds, and still more from the fact that he was away from the colony during the boycott and may therefore be supposed able to take a clear—a by-stander’s—view of it Regarding unionism, the company bad no objection to men combining and forming a union, and, tha'|ihey bad not any objection was shown by the fact that these unions had existed in friendly relations with the company for so many years. First there was a union among the engineers, then a union amongst the seamen and firemen, and then again among the cooks and stewards, and lastly and recently a union.among the officers. No objection had been offered so long as business was conducted fairly and honorably, and with due consideration to the interests of employers. The company had acquiesced in all the fair rules of these unions, and also agreed from the very first to employ only members of the unions. That had been carried out honorably by the company; hat it must be borne in mind that there were also duties devolving upon the men—they must perform their duties , honorably and fulfil their engagements to the company, and give fair value for the money they received, and in that way only could they better their condition. His personal opinion was and always had been in favor of unions, and be challenged his opponent, who was a leader of unions, and who was responsible for all that had taken place—(“ Hear, hear,” and “No, no’’)—he challenged him to say whether he had not at ail times met him fairly and calmly, and given fair consider ation to any claims that he had made. He bad made many concessions which would not have been secured from anyone less favorably disposed to the claims of the men generally. Bis personal opinion was in favor of unions. Be regarded them within proper bounds as desirable, because they afforded the men a means of conferring together and formulating their demands in the direction of a reduction of the hours of labor and in other directions. They were also of advantage to employers, because they regulated wages and hours of labor, and protected considerate employers from less scrupulous employers who would perhaps take advantage of the men to get their work done at cheaper ratesBut it was only possible for employers and unions to work together when a fair amount of consideration was shown to each other. It could not be so when the unions took up an aggressive position and a position of hostility to employers; it could not be so if the avowed object of the unions was to make demands and to retaliate upon capital—if the avowed object was, as bad been openly stated in the public prints, to reform the unions for the purpose of “having it out” with the employers over the late trouble. That was not his view; Ho would go so far as to say that they might obtain some scheme under which they might obtain some measure of co-opera-tion 5 for he held that the day was not far distant when all the great industrious institutions would be carried on by means of cooperation, so that the employe would have some degree of interest in the inttitution for which belaboured, but that could never be arrived at when men were taught to regard their employers as natural enemies. If th£ men desired to bring about complete unionism

—if theydesired that unionism should again become universal throughout the colonial fleets, which be should like to see on condilions—they must reorganise the unions, and put them on a different basis, j The unions could never' be allowed to become universal while they occupied such a hostile position towards the employers. Let them reorganise the unions so that the men might get what they wanted in a friendly way. Then the unions should not be too restricted, but should he open freely to all qualified men, and there should be no thought of strikes. They should provide for conferences between the men and the employers by which demands brought forward for wages, for hours of labour, and for any other subject could be settled amicably. They should provide for boards of arbitration or conciliation, who xhight take evidence, arrive at the position of employers, having access to their books, and come to a decision whether demands made on either side should be granted or not. There should also be legislation by the State for a final appeal to a board composed of three judges of the Supreme Court. It might he said that the judges of the Supreme Court had plenty to do altearty without being called upon every day and every week to settle labour difficulties ; but he was of opinion that if labour were once put upon this footing it wonli be very rarely indeed that the judges would have to settle these difficulties, for they would be settled by the conferences or hoards of conciliation. In addition to this, - some provision should be made for putting the funds of the labour institutions to a good use—the funds would not then be required for a fighting fund. Let provision be made also for an allowance to men who are sick, and for an allowance for a time to men who were oat of work ; and in return for the protection afforded by the unions to the employers, let the employers contribute to the funds a percentage of the contributions of the men. By the employers contributing the men would feel that their interests were the same, and it was the duty of all-employers to have some consideration for the well-being and advancement of the men they were employing. Provision should be made in such a way that as the funds of the Union accumulated each man would have an interest in them, so that when anyone retired he might withdraw a certain proportion, standing to his credit as an individual, out of the general funds; but (he protection of the employes should be subject to the condition that men should not be allowed to out on strike without forfeiting all their interests in the accumulated funds of the union. (Hear, hear and laughter.) They might laugh, but that was the true solution of the settlement of the relations between employers and employed. He maintained that capital and labor must go hand in band ; and if they did that, they would gradually reach a fair measure of co operation, and then both sides would be satisfied. He had said what was on bis mind with regard to the labour difficulty, and be hoped sincerely that .they would come to the conclusion that the position be took was a fair one, and one that was entitled to their support. (Mr Mills was frequently applauded as be spoke).