TRADES UNION" LIMITA'TIONSiI'')

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 864, 9 July 1910, Page 7

TRADES UNION" LIMITA'TIONSi I '')

Sir, —The '" closing words of youi leader to-day should be;taken seriousiy_ to. heart by -every individual,. employer or employee, who wishes this country to advance. ' "There js a' limit'' which cannot bo exceededwithout danger to - the unions and; to the whole community." That' wo 'arc coming perilously near that limit is evidenced by the, aversion which capitalists havo to putting their money into'industries. ''Reference has been, made to this matter more than once by financial institutions, and . still- the unions intend to ask for more.'-' Aiiy legislation giving them' .greater • powers will need, to be_ very carefully considered, or serious' harm .- will .result. ••• -' Some. of these union secretaries appear. to' . look .'upon employers as .parasites', and would like tb see , their •downfall brought about. They are unablo to : approach the question -with-an open mind. It is their mission to worry -employers for all they are worth. Tako 'the recent cases cited: by-tho secretary of the Furniture Makers' Union. None of these. should have been brought before: the- Court at all;- There; was no-other-course open to the magistrate but. to convict; but that; brings no credit to the union. In. fact, tho manner.that they were gone into by'the secretary proves that unions 'should bo deprived of the power tq sue employers. Take the first, case'. The Act says ■wages shall be' paid fortnightly, the award says weekly, while, tho Govorn--nient pays monthly. ■ It is pointed out to the employer that ho is bound by ..'the, award, not -the Act. Ho submits, ■and' .pays 'weekly. Nevertheless, the lunion sues, and gets judgment. Take case; nine. Tho employers, instead of,stopping the apprentices' pay :' for absence, as sot out in tho indenture, pairl the wages as usual, "and caused tho time lost to be made up at the end of.. the_ year. They rea|ly paid the wages in advance, and for this they are punished. Instead of being proud ■of such" a' victory (?) I think the union should be ashamed •- of it. If my memory serves me rightly, all the other eases were on a par with the above. I have noticed, several other-cases in ■other unions equally as sickening, the : fines being in somo instances as high •as £10. It is time employers lined :up against this sort of thing, before it 'is too late.—l am;'etc. > COLONIAL INDUSTRY. July 6.