The Industrial World

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 757, 10 May 1933, Page 4

The Industrial World

CONDUCTED BY OBSERVER

This column is devoted to the j news of the industrial Labour ; movement as represented by the j secretaries of the various unions j whose headquarters ar* at the Trades Hall. Trade Union News and | Views. Meetings for the coming week: Canterbury Carpenters’ Union, to-night, 8 p.m. Fire Brigades’ Employees’ Union, Friday, 8 p.m. Metal Trades Group (Council), Thursday, 7.30 p.m. Tlie General Labourers’ Union, Tuesday, 8 p.m. The Engineering Union, Tuesday, 7.30 p.m. Industrial Disputes. Another very important break has occurred in the economic activities of this country. Last week the Seamen’s Union decided to withdraw its members from the vessels trading in local ports, and consequently many of these vessels are lying idle. The cause of the dispute is one of wages, but in a few instances the reduction has not taken place. The dislocation of the shipping industry affects other industries, and thus trade becomes severely restricted. Already volunteer workers have been employed, and this may result in the ships being declared black, not only in New Zealand, but in Australia also. It does appear that a methodical attack on the position of the workers is being organised. At first the workers in the freezing industry met the full force of this concerted attack, with the result that the workers were defeated and the union sadly reduced in strength. With the workers in the freezing industry being put out of action, the attack is now' centred on the seamen. Should the seamen be defeated then probably the attack will be centred on the waterfront. The seamen are a constituent part of the Alliance of Labour, and this organisation will now’ use its weight and power to bring about a settlement. In fact, a conference was arranged last Monday afternoon at the request of the Alliance of Labour, when representatives of the Alliance, Seamen’s Union, Cooks and Stewards’ Union and the Ship Owmers’ Federation attended. A committee of five from each side has been appointed to evolve some common basis of settling the dispute. Coal Hold Up. The strike, since April 18, in the Waikato coal industry appears on the way to a settlement. A conference of the parties to the dispute was held on Monday, when- it was agreed that, pending acceptance by the Miners’ Union, the men will return to work on the following conditions: “ The proprietors of the Renown Collieries will withdraw the notices which were posted in April proposing to postpone payment of 20 per cent of the wages due to men during the continuance of the coal price ‘war’.*' The conference also adopted the following resolutions: (1) That it is agreed that the Renown Company will at once withdraw its notice so that the mines will be open for work under the present agreement on Wednesday. (2) That the chairman will call a meeting of the owners to be held not later than May II to consider trading conditions. (3) That in

future the Renown Company undertakes to give fourteen days’ notice to its miners of any proposed stoppage.

This dispute shows clearly that when a price war occupies the industrial field the workers are compelled -to accept lower wages although they have no voice in precipitating the struggle. With reduced wages, the consuming power of the w’orkers is lessened and the employers seek for further reduc- j tions in price owing to lessened de- 1 mand. By this method the -workers can be driven down to a very low’ I standard. But the formation of unions by which the workers stand together is a force which prevents the employers from adopting price wars and reducing wages. Society, however, suffers by the stoppage in the production of goods services, and the standard of living is reduced while increased numbers swell the ranks of the unemployed. All this could be prevented, particularly in times like the present, if the Arbitration Court were left with its functions intact. Since the abolition of the compulsory powers of the Industrial, Conciliation and Arbitration Act in 1932, this community has endured a strike in the coal mines, in the freezing industry, in the ships and now among the miners in the North Island. The cost to the country of such ill-considered legislation is beyond computation as far as human suffering is concerned. Lesson for Workers. The chief lesson in all these experiences to the workers is in showing them the wisdom of forming national organisations along the lines of industry. These national unions should be affiliated into one national body which would act as the central advisory staff for all unions. Its function should not only be to control a dispute that has arisen, but also to advise the unions on new functions that should be undertaken in order to prepare the unions to take a responsible part in any new economic order that might be evolved. That a new economic order is coming into existence slowly but surely is evidenced by the changes now taking place. Mr Golin Fraser, speaking at the annual meeting of the Australian Mines and Metals Association in February, stated: “We are living in times of rapid and world-wide change. No one can even pretend to see through the fogs and mists that envelop the present position. The idea, however, that the world is destined to return to the condition and order of things which we once knew and regarded as normal, is untenable. A new economic order is rapidly growing in every country, and it will bring in its train great political and social changes. There never was a time when goodwill in industry was more essential than at present, and goodwill is only possible if each and all of us recognise that the other fellow’s viewpoint and objectives are not necessarily entirely selfish.” It is a great pity that the New Zealand Government did not recognise the need for goodwill in industry when it cancelled the real power of the Arbitration Court. Still, if the position that has arisen through such legislation will result in bringing the trade unions back to a realisation of their true purpose in economic life, the sacrifice will have been justified. “ Unity is strength ” should be the watchword of every wage-earner in these difficult times.