THE KEEPING OF AGREEMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1924, 5 December 1913, Page 6

THE KEEPING OF AGREEMENTS.

TliK acting-president of the Red Federation," Mi;. J. Doworay, declares that his word is as good as his bond, and that ho has never gone back on it. ■ Moreover, he claims that the miners have naverbroken an agreement, and as the miners were responsible for the founding of the Federation, lie implies that the Federation can be relied on to keep to its agreements. Mil. Dowgray probably is one of the most reasonable and honest of the leaders of the Bed Federation, and the majority of the employers who have come into touch with him personally would, we believe, be ready to acknowledge this. But. in face of the actions of the Rod Federation, is it worth while arguing the question he raises'? If his statement means anything tit all, it means that the Red federation is an organisation which believes in the honest observance of agreements honourably entered into. "What are the facts? When the waterside workers dishonourably broke their agreement, what did the Red Federation do? Did it tell them they had done a wrong thing, and advise thorn to endeavour to repair that wrong by going back to work? 'Not at all. It. took up their cause, and backed them up in their wrong-doing. And what was the next step? Did it show any honourable regard for agreements honestly entered into when it called a general strike! Did it not cell on the seamen and the drivers, and the carpenters, and the miners, and all the rest of the unions to break their agreements? And did not many of them do so? What has Mr,. Dowgray to say to this? Does he repudiate Mr. Hickey's "to hell with agreements" policy, and the pronouncements of Mr. Allen, of the official organ, the ilaorilund Wnvltcr, that no agreement is binding? And if he does repudiate these monstrous teachings, can lie pretend to believe that the members of the Red Federation are in accord with him'? He knows quite well that the Federation lias not the slightest respect for agreements; that it has proved this in a score of cases during the present industrial trouble; and that if any advantage is likely to be gained by'breakins an agreement, the Federation will not hesitate _ for one. moment to advise and insist on that breach being committed. Had it had its .way, the- Red Federation would have compelled every labour union in New Zealand to break its agreement and join with it in the present struggle, regardless of all honourable obligations, and heedless of the injury such a course of action must- do "to labour unionism. These

pre known facts—thev are not even disputed by the Federation. What is the use, 'therefore, of llio nclingof the Federation tolling the public that he believes in keeping agreements? Probably he does, but he is not. the Red Federation.