WATERSIDE TROUBLES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2991, 31 January 1917, Page 4

WATERSIDE TROUBLES

Recent (.roubles with watersido workers make it clear that there is a disturbing clement which is acting in a manner likely to prejudice the interests ol the workers with the public as well as doing injury to tho community generally. One of the most mischievous teachings of tho ignorant labour agitator is the advocacy of reduced output, or, as in the case of the waterside workers, reduction in tho amount of cargo handled in a given time. This principle, if followed generally, would react against tho workers themselves with deadly effect. It would increase the cost of everything, and even if accompanied by higher wages would leave the wage-earner worse off than before. This, of coureo, is so obvious that none but tho most ignorant or thoughtless could be led to indulge in the folly of imagining that the employer alone is- the suffcror from ca , canny methods. Tho employer, whether ■ he be a baker, a bootmaker, a shipowner, or anyone else, is , compelled to fix tho charges for his goods or his freights in accordance with the cost of production or the cost of working his business. If the employee goes slow, 'and so increases the cost of working, that cost is passed on to tho public, which means employees in other industries or occupations. The wharf labourers, for instance, who handle only 30 packages whore they could handle 40 increase tho cost to those who ultimately pay for tho goods. If a,bootmaker can turn out 20 pairs of boots in a week, and only makes 10 pairs, then by slacking up he increases the price of boots to tho wharf: labourer. And no tho thing goes on.. .The worker, who does les^

■ than a fair clay's work for his pay increases the cost of living to his brother worker. It hi l,|io height of folly to imagine that higher wages can he gained and reduced output given without it reacting on the workers themselves through tho cost of living. At tho moment, however, the trouble on the waterfront would seem to ho prompted by a spirit of unreasonableness that suggests a desire to find a ground of grievance at any cost.. Whereas iu tho Mother Country the leaders of labour arc showing an increasing anxiety- to smooth over difficulties and differences and increase output so that the whole energies of the nation may be concentrated on those tasks essential to the successful prosecution of the war; here in , certain quarters there is a distinct tendency to act in exactly the opposite way, and to sow discord and hamper effort. Any interference with the movements of shipping at the present time- may do incalculable harm, nob so much to those in New Zealand as to our kindred in Britain. Anyone interfering with the quick dispatch of overseas vessels, more especially those carrying food supplies to tho Mother Country, is merely playing the gamo of tho enemy. The German submarines are striving to do tho same thing in another way. In these days ot shortage of ships, every day's delay in the dispatch of a vessel means loss of service to the nation, and added cost of living to the people here and in Britain. Prom what wo have been able to learn of the position, the bulk of tho waterside workers, as well as the great majority of organised labour unionists throughout the Dominion, have no sympathy with tho efforts being made to stir up industrial strife. They realise that so long as the conditions of employment arc reasonable the present is no time for internal strife. That tho conditions on tho waterfront are reasonable at the present time is generally recognised; and if they were not thero is tho opportunity to have them reviewed before the Arbitration Court. Those who are seeking to make trouble cannot plead ignorance of the effect of their action in assists ing the enemy. Wβ cannot afford to have internal troubles just now, and least of all can we afford to have disputes which' aro manufactured without good cause, and which interfere with the transport of foodstuffs to the Mothor Country. Tho&o who are striving to stir up mischief on the waterfront will find, should the occasion arise, that their actionis untimely and that public feeling will be bitterly hostile to their efforts.