INDUSTRIAL TURMOIL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 185, 1 May 1920, Page 6

INDUSTRIAL TURMOIL

.. -—•— ' URGENT NEED FOR A GENERAL' . : REVIEW (Contributed by the N.Z. Welfare ■ • League.) s . I'or some months past the league lias 'been urging the )i4ed for a general review of our 'Dominion's industrial situa--"" lion, specially as it relates to tile matter of .industrial disputes. We have again ■ and again' emphasised the 'advisability of the Government calling, together'a national conference of direct representatives ot Capital and Labour in order to seriously attempt to' arrive at swne common understandings upon basic principles and methods which, might.do away with much of the perpetual friction,' strife,, and distrust that now exists. A 1 great number of bodies throughout New Zealand have heartily endorsed our .ippeal in this direction. If anything tur-. tlier were wanted' to impress upon the Prime Minister, the employers' associations, and the Labour federations, the wisdom ol holding such a national industrial coiilerciiu at an early date, surely ' the lamentalji railway strike should ho ' ' sufficient. Would it not be iulinilely belter tor the' Government to. spend .£IOOO in having thergencral . (situation candidly /reviewed 'by t.lie practical men of both the employers' and workers" sides in joint'conference than to constantly, face the risk of outbreaks in the way of strikes which cost tiie couutry many •thousands,'and-very often leave added bitterness in their wake? The discussion at the last meeting of the Wellington Harbour Board demonstrates tint UlO league was not far wrong; in urging that the mode of- settling disputes demands review and judgment, 'if the public intei»ts are not .to be ruthlessly sacrificed. .During the Prince's visit it will not be possible for the Prime Minister to call f any national conference. We take this opportunity of requesting the public lo put aside everything but the facts of , the situation, and join with 11s in . urging the Prime Minister to call a national industrial conference as soon as it is practicable. ■ The league is confident that it Mr.- Massey will take the bold course of saying to the workers' federations and , to the employers' federations: "You are all dissatisfied—well, come together in conference, investigate and confer, and then let the Government know howtar you can agree, and what you wiint. The Government will give all the-assist-ance it can to establish good relations"— then a very general response will result. '■ , Constantly-rising disputes,.short-agree-ments, fresh demands, no; common understandings of a basic character. Let us 'go on in that way and a-big smash niu*t come from, which the whole Dominion , •will-suffer. Ouv appeal is for the Prime Minister to call upon all the services of- reason and practical knowledge now whilst there is time. /To procrastinate in this matter is to court disaster, Other countries are nationally reviewing these matters,—why not Nev.' Zealand?