FOR INDUSTRIAL PEACE.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17408, 22 May 1928, Page 6

FOR INDUSTRIAL PEACE.

Despite the failure of the conference on industrial arbitration the delegates representing employers and employees have expressed mutual respect and even more cordial sentiments. The fact that men recognising one another’s reasonableness could not reach agreement suggests that it might be better to divert the search to quite different paths. Law is certainly better than war, and the arbitration law is an attempt to bring industrial disputes within the realm of law. But the arrangement really satisfies neither side. Whilst Labour is officially supporting compulsory arbitration the unions in actual disputes sometimes prefer the old methods of strife. The employers oppose compulsion and complain that the workers cannot be compelled. As a matter of fact the system must often break down. For no worker can be compelled to remain at his task, nor can a company be forced to keep its works going if a loss is involved. The provision against strikes and lockouts cannot be wholly effective. Nevertheless, it is surely better than the old plan of leaving every dispute to this crude arbitrament of strife. It is better than nothing. But why not go forward to something really worth while? The cure for strife-is not repression of strife but the culture of co-operation. A plan was put before the Industrial• Conference for organising individual businesses on a basis of co-partnership. This alone would not provide the whole machinery of co-operation, but it is entitled lo more consideration than it receives. Jn Britain many of the economists and social leaders have expressed the opinion (hut real advance must needs be along the lines of co-operation. Time given lo that cause should be far more fruitful than (he long hours spent, by good men in the discussion of strife from the point of view of strife. But we can only expect that the politicians will waiL till co-opera-tive plans have been more widely tested and proved by private people, it is for politicians to reap where social pioneers sow. The call of the time is l'or pioneers.