WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16033, 26 January 1920, Page 9

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

INDUSTRIAL UNBIST.

THE LABOUR PROBLEM.

(From Our Special Correspondent.) , . , WELLINGTON, January 24. Rightly of wrongly, there is an impression abroad among employers and their sympathisers that serious labour troubles are brewing. The representatives of the workers are extremely reticent always, and if they say anything at all upon this subject it is rather to protest they are doing their best to avert an upheaval than to give any assurance such an upheaval will not occur. The initiative, if trouble is to come, seems to lie with the miners, but if they should go out they would be speedily followed by the transport workers and the members of the other militant unions. The restraining influence, so far as the men are concerned, is the knowledge that the weight of public opinion is aganisfc them, and that no funds are available for a prolonged struggle, or even for a short and decisive one.

THE EMPLOYERS’ CLAIM.

Seen to-day, a large employer of labour, whore business would be very gravely affected by even a brief interruption of the transport services, said he had gone into the men’s grievances very carefully and with a desire to be quite unbiased by his own interests, and had satisfied himself that, on the score of wages and hours, there was no good cause for complaint. The increased pay, speaking generally. Had kept pace with the increased cost of living, and there had been no disposition on the part of employers to lengthen the hours without adequate recognition. There were difficulties in connection with/ the housing problem, however, which imposed much inconvenience. and even suffering, upon the workers and their families, and until these were removed by some' State or municipal effort the position would remain unsatisfactory.

TEE WORKERS' ATTITUDE;

The general attitude of the average worker towards the existing conditions is cue of dull indifference. He is being constantly told he is not receiving a fair share of the products of his labour, and he honestly believes the capitalists are treating him badly and the newspapers habitually misrepresenting him; but, in spit© of all this, he is daily becoming less disposed towards strikes, and better inclined towards political and constitutional action. The average worker, of course, is only a private in the labour army, and his experience of industrial strife is that he pays the piper while his officers call the tune. The organisation to which he belongs may be democratic enough in letter, but it is flagrantly bureaucratic in spirit. These are the influences that are making him more and more of a constitutionalist, and less and less of an anarchist. THE SILYER LINING. It is perfectly safe to say the rank and file of the labour army wish to adjust their differences with the employers without resort to direct action. This is one of the most hopeful facts in connection with the situation. Another is the appearance of an increased number of Labour members in the House of Representatives. Nothing was more obvious in the last Parliament than the sobering influence of responsibility and knowledge upon Mr Peter Fraser and Mr Robert Semple, and even upon Mr Holland. Mr Fraser and Mr Semple speedily recognised the advantages the representative in Parliament possessed over the agitator in the street, and quickly adapted themselves to their fuller opportunities. Mr Holland had a reputation to sustain, and he did his best to sustain it. But Parliament is going to provide the safety-valve for Labour unrest, and Parliament need be non© the worse for th© service.