CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 248, 8 July 1918, Page 7

CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS

ON INDUSTRIAL CONSCRIPTION REPORT AND RESOLUTIONS The following is (be report and resolutions adopted by an open congress of trade unions, held'at "Wellington on Fri--day and Saturday last, to consider tho question of industrial conscription. Tho report is signed by Messrs. T. Bloodwortk (chairman), and H. Hunter (secretary) :— The congress holds the .opinion thai ! the underlying reason for tile conscription of labour proposed by tbo Government is to maintain tho advantages and profits of the employing and land-owning classes:— (1) Tho Labour movement is aware of tho seriousness of the crisis through which New Zealand—in common with all other countries—is passing, and of the new conditions that are fast developing as a result of the war. These conditions hayo made tho possibility of a world famine a matter for serious consideration and action. (2) Every section of tho community must see the necessity for the ecientiflo organisation and control of the full resources of tho State in order to minimise the chances of chaos and starvation on a large scale. (3) The private ownership of snch services as banking, transport, and foot supplies has had a tendency to arrest progress and to sap the vitality of the State during this time of crisis; a etatt of Rffaii's which can no longer bo toler- ' atod if the best interests of the .people are to bo conserved. , (4) Iji I lie matter of nnaiijra alone, thousands ol pounds have been squandered in advertising the flotation of loans which cau only bo classed as soino of the greatest financial blunders of modern times. (5) Our war services to be carried on by means of loans, which are lnrgely made* up of private banking credit for which high rates of interest have to be paid. (6) The payment by tho. State of from 41 per cent, interest for the use of credit that in the last analysis belongs-to the State itsolf can hardly be classed as effioioncy. (7) Private banks—by making advances to customers desirous of taking war bonds—have assisted in methods r>f finance, which not only, means using tho ' public credit for private gain, J>nt have " been responsible for. inflation of the cur : roncy and a general rise in prices against the State itnelf, as well as against its citizens. . . . ■ (8) This again , must be classed as being both wasteful and unnecessary, and calls for the compulsory utilisation of the banking business in defence of the common good. (9) Since the outbreak of war, approximately 50 millions in additional profits have been reaped by private persons in New Zealand while- the State- elowly bleeds to death, and the etandard of living of its citizons becomes gradually reduced. ' ' ■ ■ (10 This calls for a system of finance that would have 'for its foundation the taking uf all community-created land values, as well as all incomes above JJ3OO ', per year] during thn wiii , period. ? (11) Tho need for a more officiant £ transport system has brought itself into 0 prominence during the war period, and tho payment by tho Government of a r sum exceeding the value of the vessels n hired, for tho use of .such vessels can B only bo called extravagance and ineflis cieney, and can only 'be remedied by I, Uio public ownership of the principal means of transport, ami the organisation ._ of a carrying service that will assist in ( ( tho development of industry instead of ;. octopus-like draining Ita life blood. r (12) The shortage in the world's wheat a supply and other foodstuffs, and tho posd sibilitv of a world famine, call for tho o immediate public ownership of nil sources n of supply (or tho purpose of iitorcaaing d tho .production and conservation of tlm ,v necessaries of life... ' e .' . .-■-..... . Labour Supply; . !' (1.1) Tho compulsory utilisation of labour oan only bo justified on the grounds that tho citizens have refused (o givo ■J their services for industrial purposes. (14) This is surely not applicable to ( the wage-earning class, whose economio status in society compels them lo work ■ or starve. '' (15) Only by the private ownership of , the means of life can any section of tho " community live and thrive, without ren- * dering any useful servico to the State. . (1G) Therefore tho voluntary registration of all labour and its scientific application to public enterprise is tho dell mand of the hour. '* General Views. h 1. In our view tho proper industrial e function of tho State is to nationalise 1, industries and thereafter to entrust their k management to the trade unions. Yet vre n recogniso that industry, must go on if the nation is to exist, and that so long y ae the relationship of employers, and om■fl ployed continues these two parties to the if social contract can, and indeed must, e nioet to discuss anil endeavour to agree :1 temporarily upon various matters. ■ Ie 2. Recognising that organisation is esd sential to true efficiency, the universal ;- acceptance of unionism by both sides " should bo the basis upon which employer n and employed should meet. a 3. .And thnt organisation should be in,o duatrial in character (that is to say •e there should be one organisation of emn ployers and one of employed for each inu dustry as a whole, not ono for each i- trade in ail industry) and national in n scope (that is to say, there should l>o n one organisation of employers and ono )■ of employed in any one industry throughi, out the,country). ■4. With such a.system of organisation ii wo propose that for the guidance of int- dustry 9 There shall be a National Indus--10 trial Council, composed of ono nmrc- '" sentative each from employers and J employed for each of tho present in- " dustrial districts, such roprwentun lives to be elected by the people they represent. This council shall bo an h it were an Industrial Parliament and . an Industrial' Court of .Appeal. It JJ shall bo its* duty to make suggos'r (ions for tho guidance of local coimK cils, and to decide any disputes which may voluntarily be brought before [. ' it. Such decision shall not have the ■ force of law or be regarded as arbi- '" tnuy, it being recognised that IVcof doni of action is tho basis of these- :' proposals, the workers retaining their right to withhold their labour ii'nd the employers their right to re~ luse iicvcss (o the factories, subject ■ only to th« rules of (heir riMpectivo iiiitimuil industrial organisation. ■ 5. There shall be in each industrial district (or, if preferred, in each town) separate advisory councils for eacli inn duetry, composed of thrco (or a number to be agreed) representatives each of emk ployurs and employees elected by the people they represent. I!. The object of these, councils (national and local) would be to promote the-continuous mid progressive improvement in industry, to realise the organic '• ' unity of industry as a national service, o and to promote the well-being and status of all connected with it. Councils' Functions. y 7. Tho councils would concern themselves with: 1. .Regulation of Wages.—Tho provision of ii graduated .scale of minimum rates o designed to maintain real wages as nearly as possible on a level throughout the country. Subsequent advances to bo ( on d ft national basis. 2. To supervise. Working Conditions y and Endeavour to Keep them Uniform.— These matters will, however, bo in tho control of workshop committees, who will have dtU! regard to the health and welfare of those concerned. Is !). Prevention of Unemployment,—(a) To acquire a fuller participation 'in tho a. control or the Hoard of Trade, and to r supplement their work by imptoved organisation special to the trade for Iho is dcuasunlisiition of- labour, and (b) u> miniliiiM) tho fluctuation of trade by intelligent anticipation and the. iiiigmenlas lion-of demand in slack periods, in cooperation with tho Government and local !■ authorities. •1. Employment of Partially Disabled - Soldiers— To regulato the employment of narlially disabled soldiers and lo ensuro'

that tho ponsions granted by tho nation shall not become tho means of reducing . tho standard α-alo of wages. 5. Technical Training ami Hcscarch.— To arrango for adequate tcclmic»l training for tho men) bet's of each industry, tho improvement of processes, cteigli, and standards of workmanship, apprenticeship, research, and the regulation of tho conditions of ontry into any trade. { I). Publicity.—To issue authoritative in-. . formation upon all matters whereon it (j is deemed desirable that leaders of public . opinion, tho Press, and the general pub- * lie should have exact information. 7. Continuous and Progressive Improvement—To provide a dealing bouse for ideas, and to investigate, in conjunction with experts, every suggested lino of improvement. 8. The councils would set up committees of inquiry (with power to coopt experts) to investigate and report on each of the foregoing matters, and would deal -with their recommendations as and when presented. All proposals before the councils would be fully ventilated and discussed through the medium, ol joint district boards, works committees, the trade papers, and the general Press, in order that the opinion of the members of the trade and of the general publie thereon might be accurately gauged, before final decisions were taken. 1 Joint district councils would bo set ] up by local units of the two orgauisations for the discission of tho proposals of tho council and the furnishing of local J faots and statistics as required, .'lhoy > would also perform a..valuable service by preparing and forwarding suggestions for f consideration. ' AVorks committees would be small . groups representing management and la- J bour, eet up for the same: purpose in particular fields, factories,', and workshops. This memorandum is the outcome and expression of a dosiro on the part of organised Labour to render its full share of service towards the oreation of a new . nnd better industrial' order, and is the ' result of careful study of proposals in other parts of thn world, and of experience in. industrial matters iii New 'Zealand. Resolutions Carried by Congress.1. "This congress is of opinion lhat tho method of fighting industrial conscription should be left to the unions and federation* of tho various industries,'and that a deputation representing the industries represented at the Congress should wait on the Cabinet, and etate that ive j will oppose industrial conscription if the Government attempt to put it into operation." The following deputation was appointed :—Messrs. J. Roberts, t>. Bruce, C. Grayndler, A. Parkue, L. Glover, A. Black, B. Martin, B. J. Key, 11. Bigby, S. Boroham, ]). It. Kennedy, and R. F. Barter. . . " " 2. "That. conferences ■be held iii the ohief centres to discuss the question of the tactics to bo used in ' fighting industrial conscription, and that representa-' tiros from eacli centre meet to arrive'at a national understanding, tho United Federation of Labour to I>e the convening }x>dy. In the meantime each union or federation lo be asked to decide if llioy are prepared to fight industrial eoiiBcription, and-tho. method , they propose to adopt to defeat it, in, the event of its being put into operation."