CORRESPONDENCE,

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11392, 24 October 1904, Page 7

CORRESPONDENCE,

Arbitration v. Strike*. to tit* Ei)lton. Sir,—Your sitbleador of this eveuing'a issue, "Arbitration v. Strikes," will be read by many with great interest, and I venture to say that very few will disagree with your summing up in favour of arbitration. Nevertheless, one must not forgot that, according to the evidence given by Labour leaders before the Labour Bills Committee a few days ago, Labour is not inclined to think that they have not the protection either from the Court or the rftate that they should have. Perhaps they are right, perhaps wrong; but supposing that those Labour loaders were to como to the opinion that it were better for themselves that they resign their offices and seek other occupation, for it must bo allowed by all tliat Labour .has some really smart men among their leaders, and they rather lose than gain by the positions they now hold. As I have said, supposing these men resign, and advise the' other officers to do likewise, thereby causing Unionism as we now understand it to fall to pieces, what would be the position of the Board or Court? Simply useless. How simple it w,ould be to avoid this ,by giving this preference that they ask for, thereby causing this workman known as a nonUnionist, who in many cases gets the preference, to go into the Union and bear hi 3 fair share of the work that is for his benefit. When a nation goes to war we cnll those men cowards who will not bear a hand. So it is with Labour. From what I can see, preference to Unionists is not a menace to an employer, only to the non-Unionist is it so. inasmuch as it costs 3d per week per member io belong to these Unions. It appears to me moßt unfair to compel Unions to come before ths Board or Court, and after they have got themselves into discredit with their employers, which sometimes means dismissal, that they have no further protection than tho present law now allows, which in a great many cases is no protection at all. Labour, according toTcturno Civen by the Right Hon. the Minister of Labour, i has a voting power of about 26,000. Now, is it reasonable to suppose that they are going to allow this matter that they stake such a lot on /to die out? It appears to me that the future member for Wanganui., whoever he is, will havo to know something about this question at ' the next general election. — I am, etc., ARBITRATION. Wanganui, October 22.