COAL AND TRANSPORT

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14601, 26 February 1921, Page 3

COAL AND TRANSPORT

THE WAY OF RELEASE. WHERE THE OUTSIDER CAN ASSIST. In connection with the coal-mining industry, waterside work and other branches of industrial transport, we seem to just get over one conflict to p.-t right into another. "Go slow" in in.- mines is followed by "no overtime ~r other restrictive practice on the waterfront. A great bodj of the people are falling into the fatalistic habit of thinking "well, it must be so," or of looking for release by some greater ci nllict llial will settle matters completely. Everybody who thinks realises I! at these constant interruptions of trade are injuring the whole body of il.e people. The struggle goes on, with brief interludes of seeming settlement that are only but breathing spells. There are no onlookers in a sense, as everybody is affected by what is taking place. The industries, other than those engaged in the disputes, are variously affected by the shortening of supplies ;,r,d the increasing of costs of materials. The consumers are all the time affected b> the disturbances .n these key industries in the higher cost or living whicii follows each succeeding change. Most of all the great multitude of workers, with their wives and families, are detrimentally affected by the causes set in operation by each strike, go-slow practice or close down in these key industries of the Dominion. Is there any release from this state of affairs or are we to accept it as permanent or to be looked for at regular intervals? This appears to us as being the question tl at, above all others, the heads of our Government authority should come to some conclusion on. Hitherto the Ministers of the Crown appear to have been content if they could only find the means of settling some pressing immediate dispute.

What is troubling us most, however, as a people, is not a particular dispute, but the constant repetition of industrial conflicts with attendant stoppages of industry. It is to find the causes of this constant repetition and a solution pi' this trouble that our leading politicians should turn their attention. They may believe, as so many others do, that settlement can only c ic by way of i bic battle. The question still remains ; i- to whether the "big battle" ever settles anything. The community and the i-Uatc will defend itself when endangered, ami rightly so; but in civil disputes it is must wise lu endeavour to secure some methods of settlement which may result in something better than loss to both side-?, which is always the case in a strike or lookout. On review of the conflicts of this last year within the Dominion, we observe that in all cases where the parties .on one side or the other have sought to force their will entirely it has resulted in a stoppage or serious hampering of the industry. The employers may claim to ■'hire and tire" as they please. In the abstract they have the right to employ whom they please, hut the arbitrary application will ever evoke the workers' right of refusing employment. Un the ullier hand, a union's attempt I" force conditions on the employer must meel the counter force of the employer's right. Where the adjust lof these conflicts has taken place it has been in general l>> the iMitrance of an outside authority. The Prime Minister has 011 Unite a number of occasions arranged r..r a committee representative of bolh parties of disputants, but always with an'inflppendenl chairman, who for the lime being represented Hint proai third parts 111*-- general public. The employers of waterside labour and the Waterside Workers' Federation settled nn agreement which provided for a disputes committee of equal numbers with no independent chairman—the outsider was ignored. That plan lias not proved a success. The outside representative can assist, because he is likely lo bring a spirit and perhaps point "f view into the held that is not possessed Tor tlie time by either of the contending parties. It is easy lo make light of our conciliation and arbitration tribunals, but had all the disputes they. have settled been determined by strike and lockout methods this country would have been greatly the loser. It is along the line of a joint control where the employers' interest and the workers' interest are represented, and the outsider, as representing the general public, holds the balance that we s ec the most, hope fm' reasonable adjustment and stability. H might he well to ronskh r whether in connection with the key industries mentioned it might nol be well |.i se| up permanent Hoards of Industrial Review constituted as we herein suggest. These boards could take hold of many a matter of difference before it had reached the acute statre and might prevent disputes, which is better even than curins them.

With re|>eet we submit this suggestion for I'.e consideration of nil the parties concerned.—Contributed by N.Z. Welfare League.