INDUSTRIAL CONSER-VATISM

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 203, 22 May 1920, Page 9

INDUSTRIAL CONSERVATISM

WANTED: A NEW METHOD (Contributed by tho N.Z. Welfare League.) Now Zealand at ono time had the reputation of being tho most advanced and progressive country in dealing with the vexed problems of industry. Its initiative and foresight in grappling with ecoiiomio issues were widely quoted to the credit of this Dominion. Of recent times wo seom to have lost our courage as a people and sunk into a slough of conservative habit. Take the matter of industrial disputes. The general attitude is one of regarding these constantly recurring troubles as if they ware either fixed laws of nature to be accepted in' a spirit of fatalism or were the "acts of God" to be humbly submitted to at all times. Enough for tho day is the dispute thereof, is about the sum total of how we aro taking the present most serious industrial situation. Whether it is due to the lack of efficient leadership, or to general apathy, wo are inclined to think it is both, the Fact is that there exists a marked indolence in approaching the matter of adequately reviewing and readjusting tho existing industrial conditions. When we get down .to the consideration of proposals for adopting any, new methods wo find it hard to say whether the Labour organisations or the employers' associations are the most conservative, because both alike want to cling on to the same old routine. They go on regularly securing the settlement of th'.s dißpute and the other by strikes, conferences, conciliation or arbitration, but all the time avoid dealing with the fundamental questions that lie at tho root of the existing conditions. Do ,the employers favour tho establishment of industrial councils on lines of the Whitley scheme? They may, but if so, they do not act like it. The same Can be said of the Labour organisations: they may believe in establishing such councils, but they are not aoting as if they did. It is clear that no Buoh councils can be established unless by mutual conference of both sides, and we do 'not find either side very active in that direction.

it is of little use talking in general terms of the need for national reconstruction, better industrial understandings between employers and employed, greater co-operation and greater enterprise. The call is not for talk in general terms but for definite action in the way of adopting new methods. The employers are not satisfied with the present industrial laws, neither are the workers. Instead of each side holding separate conferences and adopting proposals framed' wholly from their own standpoint as they have always done, we submit that the time is most opportune for adopting the new method of a joint conference. Whatever is adopted in tor or in practice both the employers and workers have to carry on under it. Is it not the most common-sense plan for the parties to meet together in conference and endeavour to arrive at what principles will work best in practice. It is truu that they have never followed the method of joint conferences of employers and employed in the past, but is it not simply stupid conservatism to opposoa plan just because you have never taken the same course previously. In studying the industrial situations of various countries to-day we are forced to admit that in England, often spoken of by colonials as "Conservative England," there ia more courage and initiative being shown in meeting the new civcviinstances of these, times with now methods than is tho ca6e in New /calami. The lead which our Dominion once gave as an industrial laboratory seems to have gone from us. We nannot believe that this is due to wftiit of ability. The nev; iiJVJtO call very .insistently for new and better methods, and we look to see the employers and workers' federations shake off the sloth of conservative habit and qrapplo «irnestlv with the problems before us. What is the use of the stronger organisations of to-day if that cannot do as effective work in settling principles • and method;, as employers and workers' unions did years ago, when their numbero wero fewer and their strength nor, bo great. Wo urge them to a bold policy of more progressive procedure.