NO AGREEMENTS BINDING.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1918, 28 November 1913, Page 6

NO AGREEMENTS BINDING.

In the House of Itopresentalives in the early hours of yesterday morning the Minister of Marine pointed out the utter hopelessness of attempting to arrive, at any agreement with the Induration of Labour, because of its policy enunciated by Mis. Hickey in the choice phrase "to Hell with agreements." He quoted the full text of Mn. Hickey'b remarks in which that shining light of the Federation laid down the rules to be followed by revolutionaries in respect of agreements, viz.: Recognise that nay agreement entered into is not binding upon you for a single instant. No, not if it wen; signed by -a thousand officials mid ratified by a dozen Courts. The agreement is not sound, Only a fool would regard it as such. The moment an opportunity occurs to better your condition, break up your agreement?. Break it whenever it will yjay you to do so. When Mr. Fisher'read the extract, Mr. P. C. Webb, who is an cx-presi-dsnfc of the Federal'on of .Labour, repudiated Mr. Hickey as an authority, an.d denied that the Federation of Labour held these views. It i« curious how very differently Mn. Webb, in his place in Parliament, interprets the policy of the Federation in face of hostile criticism, from the interpretation that is given to it at the gatherings of Bed FJaggers when passions are aroused and discretion thrown to the winds. However, after Mn. Webb's repudiation of Mr._ Hickey, the Minister of Marine pointed out that- at a recent demonstration of Heel Fcderationists one of the official spoakers_jmuneiatcd the same principles, ivlit. Webb, who was very excited and smarting under the Minister's exposure of Federation methods, again denied this. It is a little unfortunate' for him that lie had not read the official organ of the Federation bearing that day's date. In it will be found a report of what is described as "a large and enthusiastic meeting held at His Majesty's Theatre on Sunday evening, lfith inst." On that occasion Mr. «E. J. B. Allen, acting-editor of thc-Jlaoriland Wort-cr, the official mouthpiece of the Federation, is reported to have used these words:

He (Mi 1 . Allen) reiterated wiiii cmphasis the dw-triue that no agreements betwee.ii employers and wofkers could be binding, because the essence of a contract was that it should be voluntary, and the workers were not free agents in the making of agreements. Perhaps Mr. Webb will now repudiate the public utterances of the act-ing-editor of his official journal. These are the amiable people who under the prompting of Sir Joseph Ward arc now asking for an agreement to be drawn up by his Honour Sir Joshua Williams, to relieve them of the difficulties they have landed themselves in through declaring May against the community. Docs Sir Joseph Warp really think the employers and the public are so foolish as to enter into agreements with such men, or that, if entered into, they would be of the slightest Value, us a means of securing industrial peace ? It is an insult to the intelligence of the public To suggest anything of tho kind.