THE LABOUR DISPUTES.

Timaru Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4913, 2 September 1890, Page 4

THE LABOUR DISPUTES.

Tho Auckland Herald, which haß all along adopted a critical attitude, sayß :— "There ore certain thing 3 quite settled m this contest. The great competition between employers— which has compelled reduction of wages to the ' Bwaaling ' point, the overemployment of boys and young women who work ac low rates— will no doubt bo put an end to, snd many of those who have become employers on a wrong basis, must bo content to be employed. It iB quite true that of late years capital invested m these colonies m many enterprises has produced but scant return, but that has arisen from the competition of capital, not from exorbitant wages. Capital has killed capital, not labour capital. Then the Unions mußt be recognised Thoy cannot be destroyed, and they cannot bo ignored. Henceforward the employer will not be able to deal with each man singly. Another matter whioh, perhaps, at first sight appears of small importance, will be effected. The employer will be more courteous and considerate to those m his employ. He will treat his men with more kindness and consideration, and look upon them as fellow workers m a concern of common interest. This last change will do employers as much good as the employed, and will be beneficial to both parties, and to the work they ore engaged m. But it is quits clear that the present acute stage of tho disease will hive to come to an end by some kind of a compromise, and an adjustment which will shake things down into the different p-ooves whioh they must hereafter occupy. How tho new adjustment is to be brought about bo that a settlement shall take placo as soon as possible is the question now for consideration." Thiß question hinges upon another, " what is the extent to which the cost of production can be enhanced without inflicting losses on commercial enterprises, to the ultimate detriment equally of labour and capital ? " Xhero may be several mean 3by which this knowledge may be arrived at ; among them experience, with its bitter teaching ; courts of arbitration which havo points of weakness ; organisations of employers to look after their intorests as tho unions do of the- workers' interests. The Herald insists that blunders will be made and friction be inevitable unless the employers also combine, bo that their side of a dispute may be presented with the force such combination would give. "We are fully prepared to admit that the terms m which the amended and enhanced rates (demanded by employees) are conveyed to employers aro as a rule moderate m tone and expression, and m that respect reflect credit upon men who m the vast majority of cases have every reason to believe that no opposition can be made, but none the lobs is it dint : .nctly intimated that the employees have decided on those terms, and m default of acceptonce the hands will bo called out .and tho employer's business suspended. Capital m the person of the employer cannot but feel unduly oppressed by one-sided decisions of this nature, and that an important part of the community should feel itself unduly taken advantage of iB a great and festering evil, liable to produce baneful results at the earliest change of the balance, and many such changes may safely be predicted m the future. Let, however, the employor feel that bis interests havo been duly considered, and urged Dret by the representative of his own trade, and failing a settlement by a representative of employers generally, and even if it is believed that the result is injurious to trade interests, acquiescence will be given with a better grace."