THE LABOUR OUTLOOK.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1845, 3 September 1913, Page 6

THE LABOUR OUTLOOK.

The annual report of the Department of Labour, which was presented to the House of Representatives yesterday, refers to a number of matters of considerable interest and importance. In view of the stateof industrial unrest which exists in all parts of, the civilised world no one could reasonably expect that a document of this character would disclose an ideal condition of affairs, but on .the whole the 1 outlook, as. far as New Zealand is concerned, appears to lie improving. The most serious of the labour troubles—the Waihi and Reefton mining disputes—took place during the earlier portion of the period under review, and. since then a time of industrial peace, comparatively speaking, has been experienced, though another mining dispute has recently occurred on the West Coast of the South Island. However, it is folly to shut our eyes to the fact that the spirit of strife is at work in various ways, and until a better feeling between employers and employed makes its appearance the industries of the country cannot rely with'any confidence on that freedom from trouble which is so necessary for their proper development. It is to be hoped that the condition of industrial unsettlement. which now exists in almost every country is merely an unpleasant phase of the period of social transition through which civilised man is now passing. , The present Minister for Labour appears to be.looking after the employment side of his Department in a vigorous and sympathetic manner as is indicated by the fact that the total number of men assisted during the past year was 5848, as compared with 5735 for the_ year 1911-12, 3705 .being sent to private employment and 2143 to Government works. In view of the keen controversy that hf.s taken place from time to time regarding the question of immigration, it is interesting to read that "farmers find the immigrants, as a general rule, to be adaptable' and capable, and those possessing a real desire, to learn the work turn out very satisfactory workmen." It should be explained that a very large proportion of these men are not trained farm workers, and it is well to know that they are doing such' good work, as it is becoming more and: more difficult to attract experienced agricultural labourers from the Mother Country. In reference to the working of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, tho report has some interesting things to say. It is pointed out that the loss to the workers caused by the various strikes which have occurred in New Zealand since the Act came into operation is estimated at £283,206, while employers lost £160.414. The total number of men rendered idle by strikes (trivial cases not included) is put down at 8380, and the approximate loss in wages to the workmen concerned averaged £33 15s. Facts and figures such as these—although they do not disclose the full economic waste—show .the folly of strikes more than any argument can. The loss of that £33 15s. must have been very severely felt in many a worker's home, and as the wives of the strikers must have been the first to feel' the pinch it seems only fair that they should be consulted before an industrial war is declared. They ought to be allowed to vote with the men by means of a secret ballot. Such an innovation would be thoroughly democratic, and the secret vote would be welcomed by the best class of the workers who arc at present often forced against their better judgment to go on strike rather than incur' the displeasure of the shirker and the agitator. The Arbitration law provides the' worker with an alternative to industrial warfare of this character, and it is noteworthy that the report can point to a renewal of confidence in this law after a period of partial eclipse. In 1911 the membership of workers' unions under the Act showed a decrease of 1462, whereas last year it shows the substantial gain of 4993.