THE COST OF STRIKES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2383, 12 February 1915, Page 4

THE COST OF STRIKES

The facts and figures regarding the cost of strikes which have hcen compiled by the Labour Department are well worthy of the careful consideration of the workers of New Zealand. During the past twenty years over half a million of money in tho form of wages has been sacrificed by attempts to secure the settlement of disputes by means of the "down tools" policy, It appears that IM strike took place in the i«riod

under review, the men being fully successful in 25 and the employers in 84, while compromises were arrived at in 32 eases. The wages lost in the big strike of 1913 amounted to over £236,000. These facts speak for themselves, and they prove more convincingly than pages of argument the wastefulness and ineffectiveness of this form of industrial warfare. Occasionally tho workers in some industry may secure an increase of wages or get some wrong righted by stopping work, or employers may gain some immediate advantage by resort to a lockout; but generally speaking_ the use of these weapons is injurious to workers and. employers alike, as well as to the community. In many cases—probably in most cases—an agreement on the matters in dispute might have been arrived at by the exercise of patience and forbearance, combined with a spirit of reasonableness. Tho strike is an irrational and barbaric weapon, and the sooner it becomes obsolete,thc better for all concerned. Still it seems as if it must remain as a possibility. There are occasions, when, like war the strike or the lockout bcccjaios inevitable, and finds justification in the fact tliat'it is the of two evil's. In the last resort a w-orkman must have the njf&t to lay down his tools if he is not satisfied with his wages or conditions of labour, just i as the employer must have the right to close down his establishment if he cannot come to terms with bis workmen. But the great third party— tho general public—also has its rights. These labour disputes cause loss and inconvenience to the whole community. and_ the community is therefore fully justified in; taking measures to prevent the hasty or reckless use of the strike or lockout. The State is entitled to step in with the object of bringing the parties together in order to discuss the points in dispute in the hope of arriving at a settlement by mutual consent. It has also the right to insist that both sides shall have time to think the matter over, and that the real mind of those concerned ■ is clearly ascertained before an industrial war is declared. These principles j have now been embodied in the law of New Zealand, and similar legislation was recently promised by the Government of New South Wales. Such legislation, combined with the arbitration laws, should certainly assist to promote industrial peace and prosperity. The figures compiled by the Labour Department show that passion and haste in industrial disagreements are capable of doing great harm to our industries and of causing enormous loss to the wage-earners. Right and reason should be given a better chance to play their part in settling disputes between capital and labour. . , •