THE SPIRIT OF REASON

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14592, 16 February 1921, Page 8

THE SPIRIT OF REASON

RECENT INDUSTRIAL HAPPENINGS. COMMON SENSE FIRST. (Contributed by X.X. Welfare League.) We have recently expressed the view ibai there is hope for betterment, in industrial relations within our Dominion. • I times it is iliiTlcull to hold by that view in face of some occurrences. Tinnumerous disputes which are now takn g place exhibit some features both of reason and unreasonableness. In some instances we note that the employers p: ve declined It ml the workers' representatives, a course which, in our opinion, only leads to additional trouble. Toe explanation given by these employers, which is that the workers' union makes proposals which are unit-;

unreasonable, does not seem to us sullicient. The workers are not the only people who make proposals which on (he face of (hem ace (tulle unreasona.dc. We find employers at limes doing the same thing as is done by some | workers’ unions, that is making thc.r i-ioposais on tlic extreme basis expecting to have these cut down and slid come out to the good. This fencing fo • 1 ' sition is ([wile a common practice of a number of industrialists hoin on the workers' side and the employers. It ■i< ceives nobody, and is in fact really a futile practice. We shall he nearer industrial peace, however, when particular employes give up the method of refusing to meet the other side in conference. If it ;s thought Unit the proceedings of such I conferences may he misrepresented, i then provision can be made to have such ml down in writing. 11 is no douol inevitable that with (tie change in trade.

conditions, the lightening of money and giadual reduction of prices employers will lake a stand against the hitherto r .ward movement of wages. It will at e same time be a wrong course if employers are going to press for redue -

i mi of wages in advance, or in excess, of the lowering of prices, as such is hkeiy to cause general industrial Double. The standard of wages can be kept fairly high in this Dominion if proper altenlimi is only given to tlrgiving of full service and maintenance

of output. The example of America, wI ere in many industries there obtains tile standard of high wages and a large output is worthy of the attention of our New Zealand industrialists.

We are pleased to find that tlie conference of New Zealand manufacturers now slums in Auckland is devoting full attention to the extension ami improvement of our productive enterprises, and I i pe they will receive every encouragement. They have approached the indusf'ial situalmn in a sound soirit of reason by proposing that steps be taken to proagainst possible unemployment. Having (Uijoyed so many years of good trade, when everybody can find work, we are apl lo overlook the serious i roblem of unemployment, and it is lo the

credit of the .Manufacturers’ Association (hat it lakes the ipieslion up now.

Wanted—Constructive Unionism

When we realise what great hardship | is being fell in England and also the I great numbers now out of work in Ausl■ alia, it semis that trade unions of New Zealand should he active in facing H is problem and offer some constructive j ideas to to bow it can host be met should the necessity arise. What is notable both in the ease of the .Mother (Aunlry and Australia is the evident in preparedness to meet such a crisis. Whilst we hope that lids Dominion may not have to face any depression which v ill result in many “out of works,” yet w hold if would be wiser to lay plans now than for any crisis to inert ns quite unprepared. Tim preaching of a general theory of economic advancement, even if il goes the length of complete revolution, does not meet what is want- • cd. In the past .New Zealand trades unions produced constructive ideas of real value, and here, we submit, is a question which they ought lo grapple with. It cornu rns their own members ami llie workers in general, so Hint (her lust ideas on the subject should be readily forthcoming. The English system of doles docs not strike us as b> any means the best. A system of join) industrial insurance would be hello'still, but in a young and largely undeveloped country sm-li as this would il not be belter to provide plans and a I certain measure of finance to ensure productive work as relief which would be of general value, if not commercially so at tbi> time. The unionists who think would do well to give lids question their early attention. Common Sense First. The statement recently made by AI•• : W. T. Young, general secretary of the [Seamen’s Union, in explanation of their casons for accepting the bonus of 10 ; a month offered by the employers, imI | rcsses us from the standpoint of the spirit of reasonableness displayed. Ti-e seamen are as anxious for labour advancement as any oilier workers, but in facing a series of fuels they put common sense first. Instead of labouring the matter of their abstract rights, a cours" o'Ten taken and which is easy for nil t) I postulate, the seamen recognised ran - I daily dial their earnings must have n latum to the stale of trade and price*:. There arc so many who think we can gel more out of the Mulustrial reserve-;-Ilian is running into il that il is refreshing to find a body of men who a| ply their practical common sense and i who, in effect, say, “Well, though we ’ could do with a bit more, a fair thing’s a fair thing, let il go at that." There are a good many colonials amongst, the seamen on our coasts, and we never have any fear that <mr colonial workmen will unduly “fly off Hie handle play up ami break tilings.” The eolonI i.H can break out in a lime of excite* j menl, loq on Hie average when it comes j to acting he generally lakes time off In 1 I!iink, which gives common sense ;; I chance to come first. It is the Engj lisli workman who lived in Buckingham I Palace and who decries the colonies j -is a land of slavery, because we have j not absorbed Karl .Marx for a feedingbi Hie that is more responsible for our industrial troubles of Hie wild-cat oi del-. Du the whole we are still of opinion tout our people are not going to lie stampeded into extremes of either revolution or reaction, but Unit practical common sense will come first. After all ll.e native. New Zealander lias some inIhience in Ids own country, and bo is a sleady-going bard head —mostly.