SCIENCE OR QUACKERY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19032, 9 June 1924, Page 11

SCIENCE OR QUACKERY.

THE PROBLEM OF INDUSTRIAL TROUBLE-

The following appears in an American journal, and as it is so apposite to what h*s been taking place in New Zealand, we quote it in full:— “There is a close similarity between the human physical system and the industrial systems in complexity and the possibility of getting out of order. If anything goes wrong with the regular workings of either, there are symptoms of disorder, called in the one ease sickness and in the other industrial crisis or depression. A great change has come over the practice of medicine in the last fifty or one hundred years, in dealing with sickness. The old practice waa to “do something violent” or desperate forthwith, The patient was bled, scarified, purged, physicked, drugged, drenched, doped with the most drastic remedies known, the parent purpose being either to try everything that might happen to suit the case, or to stir up all the life forces with a view to exciting them to a supreme effort of resistance that would finally put the evil spirits to flight. If the patient did not die under the treat, meat, it was considered that persistence had been rewarded in at least finding the proper remedy. In later years, however, medical science has demonstrated that Nature has her own re, storative processes, and that the’best treatment for the patient is one that gives rest and nourishment and depends upon Nature to work the cure.” “In dealing with the iUs of the industrial system, however, the same old political doctoring remains in vogue. First, the political doctors have a debate as to who is responsible for the patient’s condition. Who has 'charmed’ or bewitched him, and by what incantations can the charms be loosened. There is intense activity in all political circles to ’do something’ forthwith, with little appreciation of the fact that unless the prescription i* founded on knowledge it will make the patient worse. No remedy is too preposterous to be tried. AH the quacks who feel that their own political future is involved have remedies to offer which they guess might accomplish something. There is no recognition of the principle that Nature’s force;) are the most potent agency of recuperation, and that if not interfered with, but given free play, will work! a certain and speedy cure.” APPEAL TO REASON.'

Of course the settlement of' industrial trouble eannot bo left to Nature’s forces unless we inelude there! man’s intelligence. What has to be avoided is handing the patient over to the rough usage of passionate partisans and political quaeks. Much talk, as/ applied to industrial disputes, mostly results in more trouble. The lesson given above is that the quiet thoughtful method is the best both for/physical ailments and industrial disorders. In New Zealand we established our system of conciliation as a method of appealing to reason. This plan of deeijing on evidence quietly received ar jc l estimated, does not suit either the political or industrial quaek. There i* nothing in it for him and it is himself he is thinking of. Leaders of the Alliance of Labour, and others, advise the workers to get rid of tiie Arbitration Court. They want bi> numbers, a big fight, and plenty Cf noise. This, no doubt, suits the men who live on the game, but the working mass have to pay for it all the time. What does this “Alliance of Labour’! aim at? Is it that each ease of dispute be taken by itself and settled by judicial enquiry and reason? [ Its plan, jf it can be called such, is rather-the re verse. It aims at calling in all wage-earners of every occupation, including the public service, to deal with industrial troubles on a class basis. This spells appeal to passion, prejudice and self-interest exclusively. The big battalion method won’t work. There are too many remedies supplied. What is wanted in industrial trouble is not the pananea but appeal always to reason and enol judgment. (Contributed by the New Zealand jVelfare League).