The Sun 42 Wyndham Street, Auckland, N.Z. THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 1927. WHEN THE TAIL WAGS THE DOG

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 72, 16 June 1927, Page 10

The Sun 42 Wyndham Street, Auckland, N.Z. THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 1927. WHEN THE TAIL WAGS THE DOG

AN abrupt end to tlie strike at Arapuni hydro-electric works •tl seemed likely this morning, but the latest news from the Waikato suggests a continuation of the extravagant trouble. Though peremptorily ordered by the executive of the New Zealand Workers’ Union at Wellington to resume work forthwith, the union officials at Arapuni and the strikers appear to be in a defiant mood, determined to play a lone hand. It seems to be a foolish decision with no gain in prospect. It has been made clear by the executive’s instruction that the Arapuni foolishness in declaring a strike was another demonstration of the absurd trick known colloquially as “the tail wagging the dog.” In this instance, however, the head of the dog promptly and properly has tried to stop the grotesque antic by biting the tail.

Among the strikers and the industrial unions which impulsively gave them sympathetic support there may be cause for peeved surprise, but among all dispassionate observers themselves there can be nothing less than satisfaction with the decision of the New Zealand Workers’ Union executive at Wellington to order an immediate cessation of the extravagant strike which involved a loss of over a thousand pounds in wages through three days’ of futile idleness. Since the union officials at Arapuni blundered, badly in yielding to the agitators for strife, the best reparation they can make is to urge the men to resume work with an assurance that their grievances which obviously are not altogether imaginary, will be aired in calm judgment and fairly adjusted.

It is not necessary to discuss the old question of compelling disgruntled workers to take a secret ballot on a proposal to declare an industrial strike. The whole law dealing with work and wages requires a thorough overhaul. Neither employers nor workers are satisfied with the results of the Dominion’s system of industrial conciliation and arbitration. Many of its critics, however, will find a touch of comic irony in the fact that some people still admire from a great distance our frayed laiV of compulsory arbitration. An adopted Tory member of the British Government party has drawn the attention of the House of Commons to the legislative provisions in the Dominions for the prevention of strikes. If the envious Conservative had taken the trouble to look at the New Zealand Year Book he would have found that our system of compulsory arbitration did not prevent a record number of disputes and disturbances in the latest period of official computation. The nearest approach to the real cause of all industrial conflict was' made in Australia the other day by Chief Judge Dethridge in the Commonwealth Arbitration Court. This learned Judge declared his preference for piece-work on the principle of giving a first-class man first-class wages, instead of degrading the first-class man in industry. That principle is the secret of America’s unrivalled prosperity. Industrialists in the' United States have discovered that it pays to pay well for 100 per cent, efficiency, and to drive the loafer and the pretender off the job. Until the best workers are paid the best wages strife will remain a lamentable feature of British Empire industry.

FACING THE SITUATION

THE “plain unvarnished statement” of the financial position of I the borough made by the Mayor of Devonport last night was a revelation as to the manner in which slackness is allowed to entangle or exhaust the finances of local government. Mr. Aldridge must be commended for a courageous mayoral frankness, and his example might well be emulated by the Mayors of other boroughs and the chairmen of county councils, town boards, roacll boards and the like.

Mr. Aldridge boldly announced a truth that many ratepayers had suspected. “During the last six months,’’ he said, “Devonport borough expediture his been out of all proportion to its necessities”; and he pointed out that the loan funds were almost exhausted and that the council found itself in the position of having to meet all obligations out of revenue. On top of this is a bank overdraft of £8,000!

It is regrettable that 46 men have had to suffer by the retrenchment policy of the new Mayor, but this, he stated, was the only alternative to raising the rates by 10 per cent., and even now the remaining staff of 60 is deemed too large. The rates have had to be increased by Id in the £as it is. In the hpinion of the Mayor, in the past “a desire artificially to refnedy adverse economic conditions led to an orgy of over-staffing and expenditure. Instead of remedying this gradually, the day of reckoning has been postponed for a new council to attend to.” In saying this, Mr. Aldridge agreed that he had to take his share of the blame as a former councillor. And so he should. Despite the courage of his present attitude, it will be asked why he. did not publicly develop it before he attained the mayoralty. His excuse is that he had not been supplied with the information lie constantly sought and that insufficient time had been allowed at meetings in the past for the discussion of internal management. If essential information—and it seems in the present light to have been very essential—was refused Mr. Aldridge, why did he not call a public meeting of the ratel payers who elected him and tell them the facts? If the meetings of the council were rushed through, why did he not raise his voice in emphatic protest? As he seems to have been keener-sighted and more suspicious of the situation than other councillors (to some of whom the position came as a “bombshell last night), his share of the blame must be the greatest share of all.

However Mr Aldridge has faced the position at last, and boldly at that. May he and his council expiate their civic sins by serving the interests of the ratepayers more efficiently and with a more open policy, in the future, and see to it that there is never again “an orgy of over-staffing and expenditure” for the people of the borough to carry.