INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 45, Issue 13781, 10 March 1919, Page 2

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

WHITLEY COUNCILS. Considering the unsettled conditions that obtain in tho industrial world in the Mother Country, it is not surprising to find that there is a marked anxiety in some countries to set up "Wlhitley Councils." It was in. 1017 that the Department of Reconstruction s6t up a strong and representative committee to report on tho broad question of the relations between employers and workers. Its first report, known, from the name of the chairman as the "Whitley" report, briefly recommended that in every industry an organisation, representative of ail employers and workpeople, should be set up for the regular consideration of matters affecting tho progress and well-being of the trade from the point of view of all engaged in it, so far as might be consistent, with the general interest of the community. Tho first impression obtained by fho public was that the committee recommended merely a conciliation or arbitration council, but the intention was that the industrial councils should bo permanent, and that they should hold frequent and regular meetings for the discussion of trade matters. The idea, in fact, was to give the employers of Labour the opportunity of ascertaining precisely what grievances existed, whore reforms ought to be instituted, how production could, be increased, and generally in what respects either technical or administrative changes might be required. The scheme, that; is to say, aimed at the prevention of disputes, not at the settlement of disputes. It was recommended that a beginning should be made with the more highly organised industries, each factory having its works committee, each industry its general committee, and each district; its district: council: while national councils should be formed for the whole country. Public, opinion generally lias been extremely favourable towards the, scheme. In. April of last year it was reported thfit negotiations had been carried on in twe.nty-six industries, employing some three million workers, with a view to the early adoption of the system. Twelve were at that time preparing , schemes suitable to their requirements, live had agreed to the constitution of the council and committees, and. one had councils actually appointed. At, tin; same time the Government was sound ing its own employees. The VVliit•]cy reports, un fortunately, did not, work (he scheme out in detail, and neither the ('(institution of the councils nor their ■functions had been defined. Progress, th'-ivfove, has been extremely .slow, and only now does there appear to lie anything li!<e a vigorous campaign f<. , bring Uio s-.-lxMiie into operation generally.