The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. TUESDAY, SEPT. 16, 1890.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2836, 16 September 1890, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 16, 1890.

Equal and exact justice to all men, f Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

Tiih struggle between Capital and Labour continues t > engross public attention. Wlu-n strikes and deadlocks occur at a distance, the interest ill them engages the attcntio'i only of a cei lain section ol the community, wh(# watch the progress of outside events. Wlusn however tho contest between tnese mighty powers is brought home to our very doors, and every one is more or less effected bv the issue, jtublic attention is aroused to the highest pitch of expectation. Xow Zealand is now fairly launched in the throes of the struggle and every branch of her trade is most seriouslv affected.

When public fooling is in a state of fomont it is difficult to form a dispassionate opinion, and we arc far from wishing to puss judgment 011 the contest in wliicli the Cniou Steam Ship Company and their employees are now engaged. One thing of course is self evident. Commerce and trade are conducted by moans ol tvvn constituent fuctots. Capital and Labour. Those two factors are absolutely dependent the one on the other ami collision between them necessarily causes the stagnation of I r,ide. We have now a complete disruption between tho-e two gro.it factors, and as a natural consequence trade is paralysed. \\ hat lih'U is Ihe proper cour.-e tn adopt to reconcile these powers ? The correct, answer to this question is clearly the .•solution to the present ditUeulty. Various suggestions have boon made in this connection, for bringing about an equitable solution ot the question. Arbitration has been urged as the most elleetual way of settling tli.' matters in dispute. We see many very serious objections to this course. Arbitrations are in themselves generally very unsatisfactory to all parties concerned. The award is as a rule w!iat neither party expected and both sides are dissatisfied. ISesides in what niannet is the award of arbitration to be enforced when hundreds <>£ i'-dividuols are concerned. Imagine the present dispute referred to arbitration and the arbitrators finding that the demands of tho strikers are unreasonable and that they must forthwith return to work how would this ruling be carried into offoet ? In ordinary matters of arbitration, tho award, can be made a rule of ('ourt and the rule enforced like a judgment, but in tho present instance such a 0 iiirso would bo obviously out of tho question were force to be lin-t by force. To rufur quosiinus to arbitrators who have no powoi bohind them to enforce their award is sjme'hing very liko

a furce. A Hoard of CuneiLiatiun has als j beeu suggested, as a tribunal before which the disputes between capital and labour could bo adjusted. Tlio promoters of this scheme liavo uufortunately failed to show in what wanner tho Board is to act. ami what arc its particular functions. Arc all employers and workmen who have any difference as to t '20 rate of writes and hours ot labour, to roiiw before tho Board and have their diUVreuees adjusted and conciliation applied lifco a plaister. and then to leave with a feeling that (heir grievances had been redressed . J And of whom is tho Board to consist'! If tho Board is to am Hist of delegates representing both Capital and Labour, there would be as great a deadlock ;in the Board, as there is just now in actual business, if both interests were equally represented, and if the representation was unequal thore would bo room for manifest injii-s lien. Such a Hoard, in our opinion, would b" abortive, mid would sorve r.i lasting purpose. VI "i • -Mif'Tlthe ag<\ UiJJ Ivi'ori*

wo«• directly alTe«ti\l liv the labour question, we urged in thuso columns flint the only equitable solution of this complex problem was co-nper-ntioii. We then remarkel that the cult so <>f discontent amongst labourers arose from ft sense of in(ns'i<e, that others wore amassing wealth from their labours, of w'licli they did not obtain their proper share. W r c contended that the only wny to remove this souse fit' injustice was to make workmen actual participators in the profits and losses of the particular concerns in which they arc engaged. With a large and serious strike of seamen and labourers at present reigning in our midst, we would repeat and, iF possible, intensify the opinions wo then advanced. L'ntil employers and employed arrive at some understanding as to a fair division of profits among themselves, wo are convinced that strikes and disputes will continue. Co-operation between Capital and Labour is no now fad. It has been long recognised, by many political economists, as being theoretically correct. The time has now fully comc when it should bo reduced to actual practice. There are several ways in which wo are confident the mattor could be satisfactorily arranged. Workmen could be paid a bonus in addition to their regular wages, according to the earnings of tho business. Probably a more satisfactorily arrangement would bo to have a certain per ccntage allotted to Capital, and Labour to be worked 011 a sliding scab', according to the fluctuations of the profits of the

business. If those who are now engaged in the laudable effort of devising somo means to end this unhappy disturbance, were to take co-operation as the basis on which to effect a settlement, they would bo building 011 a sure foundation. Let them devise and elaborate a system by which tho earning power of Capital and Labour could be equitably adjusted and they would have probed tho wound to the very bottom ; they will provide a remedy that will remove the cause of nil strikes and Labour Unious and they will confer 011 their country a conspicuous and lasting service.