N.Z. WELFARE LEAGUE

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160712, 27 July 1920, Page 7

N.Z. WELFARE LEAGUE

THE THREE MAIN ISSUES, PRICES, PEACE, AND PROGRESS. PRICES AND INDUSTRIAL PEACE. Haye you thought of the relation of present-day i rices to the serious problem of maintaining conditions of industrial peace? If not, it is time you did. To the producers, merchants, and general traders price is one tiring they operate on to provide a margin of profit. To the great mass of salaried and wages people prices mean their actual living. To business men '. he difference between moderate and high prices may not materially affect their personal wants or those of their dependents. It is well, however, to note that high prices for the consumers living on fixed salaries or wages comes home to them as a restriction on their lives and of those dependent upon them. Here is the root of the matter, that under economic pressure the most peaceful citizens will revolt en masse against conditions that are seriously affecting their family life. It is on this line the danger of high prices lies. When every day in the home the pressure of want of this, that, and the other needful article is keenly felt, and debated amongst the members of the family, the danger of general industrial revolt is imminent. It is inherent in hnman nature, and well it is so that men will throw aside everything else to fight for their families. Business men of keeil minds should specially realise that if the mass is so moved they may act, not on reason, but on impulse; not on sound judgment, but in anger and the spirit of panic. We must- recognise that this issue of the relation of prices to industrial peace is the most momentous issue of our times. Our contention -s that, instead of spending time laying down what is right as a general principle under normal conditions, it would be wiser to acknowledge that the present is a time of wholly abnormal conditions. General rules or abstract principles are of little value. The times require that you shall view the whole economic, industrial, and especially social conditions, and make your call for prices accord as reasonably as possible with the. imperative need of maintaining industrial peace. Combined regulative action on the part of business people can do more to’ stabilise conditions and supply general confidence than can the Board of Trade, the local tribunals, amU the labour unions put together. BUSINESS AND CITIZENSHIP. Have you ever thought how many people in business there are who are either too tired, too indolent, or too much engrossed in their own personal pleasures to be able to give even a modicum of time to the higher duties of citizenship? In local government elections the electors are often ,-et the hard task of selecting a good Council or Board from the most mediocre presentation of candidates. Party aspirants, embryo wouldbe politicians, people who crave to be known as somebody, those on occasions constitute the panel from which to select. All must be aware that what ii dene by the government bodies— Boards. Council;, and Parliamentaffects their business; yet if we may judge on the returns of many local elections and vot’ng on loan proposals, there must he many business people who are often too tired to vote. Wo appeal to you business men that you will alter this state of affairs. More especially in the field of local government, with these bodies taking up trading ventures, is there an urgent need for men trained in the conduct of business. To leave these important matters to the party hack, to the demagogue, or to the individuals inflated with their own importance is in all respects bad. It is a field of business, and you should cither give time yourselves, or concentrate in selecting those who will make the issues of civic government matters of careful study, of patient investigation and enterprise, and put aside all formulas, political and other, to secure the very test business results. The time is past for running business on the narrow gauge. You cannot conserve even your own private interests properly without giving some attention to these questions. The-.ques-tions cl the widespread labour unrest, ot the relations of prices to salaries, wages, and political or industrial action. The question of the people’s part in Government, ns apart from treating Government as a kind of beneficent despot outside ourselves. These are all business issues. The time calls for the running of business on the blonder gauge of a wider human inetreat; therefore we look to you for more action in this direction.