LABOUR UNREST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 73, 19 December 1917, Page 6

LABOUR UNREST

AN INVESTIGATION

REPORT TO EMPIRE SERVICE LEAGUE At a meeting of the Empire Service League last evening a report was received from a committee, which stated that it had "endeavoured to ascertain by means of conversations with individuals avowedly upholders of or exponents on eo-callcd Labour views, opinions, and doctrines their attitude towards the problem of the existing relations between Labour and Capital. The meeting was presided over by tho Hon. J. 5. W. Aitken, who said that the league aimed at bringing about a better condition of things generally: at having society working as one wholo instead of divided against itself. In its report the committeo said that it had had important conversations with acknowledged Labour leaders, and that a frank exchange of views had taken place. The committeo thought tho results of tho inquiry could bo deduced from the answers obtained to the following questions:— Is there any prospect of attaining or cultivating better relations between Labour and Capital, employed and employer P—Answers: "Not the slightest"; "No"; "None whatever." The question following was: "Why?" The replies varied according to the point of view, but it was clear that misunderstandings wero in many instances the root of trouble and disagreement. What was the remedy? The replies were: Do away with the need of a man to seek employment. To this end capitalism and the capitalistic stato should ceaso on the ground that they had outlived their usefulness. All property should revert to the nation. All net profits in any industry slfould be regarded" not as tho property of the individual, association, or corporate body, but of the nation. Reorganise Labour. Instead of many unions have one central union. The State should control all industries and services—i.e., production and transport by land and by sea. The committee summed its vppnrfc as follows: —(a) No prospect as things aro of improving relations: (b) dissensions, agitation by paid officials of the extremist type; (c) a disregard of f acts as they are and an endeavour to lecreate a basis for the development of a democratic ideal.

The committee, however, considered that tho way was not only open, but wide open, for friendly discussion on many points of detail affecting those industrial relations which it M?lievcd both tho worker and the employer heartily desired to feel were susceptible of improvement. The truth seemed to 6o "Hint wTiafcver might be the individual opinions'of leaders and officials, such opinions were not the news or sentiments of the toilers. The growth of power (so-called) in the hands of the comparatively few men who controlled was analogous to what had developed, and was further developing, under our system of democratic government, a rigidity of the partv machinery and a diminishing independence of the individual membersof tho organisation, making the individual member more and more of an animated ballot paper, cast not in accordance with his deliberate judgment, but as his leaders d'.rectid. 'This system was so positively active that the unquestionable _ evidenco was found in the ever-recurring friction in our industrial life. The mass_of the public was suffering from this chronic unrest. What was needed was an expansion of activities. Why permit any longer a dominant few to keep a hoidon 'the liberties and freedom of the public? Why tolerate interference with ordinary business life in its numerous ramifications and consequent loss,_ privation, and hardship, and the inevitable recoil, on the peaceably disposed and loyal workers 'by a continuance of the present attitude of Labour, &s represented by their leaders ;.nd dictators towards Capital, and vice versa, where that attitude had its counterpart? Surely production and distribution were for mutual benefit 1 How to attain the desired end was n legitimate question. One way which suggested itself was by education. .There did not appear to be any desire on the part of Capital to 'cultivate better relations. The attitude seemed to he almost unfriendly, due in a great measure to the uncertainty that any arrangement or award would be faithfully observed.

The committee felt that the time was opportune for a serious effort to meet this question of better relations. There was what might be termed an enormous amount of common ground. What was wanted apparently was goodwill and' common sense. Both sides had_ answered "Yes" to the question. "Will you admit there aro faults on both sides?" In that answer was the key to the solution. The adoption of the report was moved by Captain Barclay. Mr._ H.. F. Von Haast asked if the committee.had interviewed the extremists or the moderates of the parties. The report suggested that it was the Labour extremists who had been interviewed. Captain Barclay said that the investigation had been impartial. Mr. W. Maddison took exception to the committee's "extremely objectionable" reference to the control of unions —that tlie unions were governed by dictators. Such language would not do good: would not tend to bring opponents together. He thought the time ripe for some such move as that touched on by, the committee, provided the committee was prepared to go to bedrock. Tf sot about the proper way th" "lid mi view miVht ho aeconinlishnrl.

Mr. W. Barr seconded the motion. He had been pleased to hear tho goodspirit in which Mr. Maddison's words had been spoken. Ho agreed with the prormstion that man had a certain right to do the best for himself, but he should not intrude on the prerogative of others to do the best for themselves. He did not altogether agreo with the present system of remuneration, and thought that some dav something better than the wasres svstem would be found. He thought there was a desire by the employers to get to a better understanding of Labour, and Mr. .Maddison had helped to that "lid. The noblest man in the! romniunity was the hbnest working man.

Mr. Von Haast said the first tiling was to got into touch with Labour. Labour should be better represented in our institutions. Labour was not properly represented in Parliament. It might also be better represented on education boards, etc. In Christchurch thev had sought to rectify this by introducing proportional representation, and that system should .be applied generally. If men of all shades of opinion were to sit together on public bodies good would result. Alteration of the wretched party system in Parliament was another important need. There was much work for the league, and he thought committees should be sptjii) to go into things. Sfr." Mainland said that he had joined the league in the hope that it would form a buffer between the two parties. He thought that we had gone as far as we could in .the direction of Labour laws, Arbitration Court, etc., and that there would soon hn a change.

The motion to adopt the renprfc was carried, and the following motion was agreed to:—"That the executive have power to create a committee of fiye, representing both sides of the question, to go into matters and define a platform. and education."