THE GUILDS AND THE ARBITRATION ACT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 42, 13 November 1920, Page 12

THE GUILDS AND THE ARBITRATION ACT

(To the Editor.) Sir,—l have road your report of Mr. E.' Kennedy's interview on the question of tho guilds ami the possiblo effect of the amendment. to . the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act to allow fliem a hearing before tho Conciliation Council and Arbitration Court. Speaking lis president of the Trades and Labour Council, Jlr. Kennedy comments thus: "Wo say that if these guilds think they are too respectable to form themselves into nn ordinary trades union as other workens have to do. then n mistake has been made in giving them the sJightest decree of legal recognition." Workers cannot be said to "have to form themselves into trades unions"—they do so in their own interest, and not because they ore compelled. Seeing that sonio of the unions, choose to be registered under the Arbitration' Act and others under .the Trades Union Act, Why should Mr.-Kennedy object to the guilds pleasing themselves" as to how ihey register? It seems to me that Mr. Kennedy's attitude is that of an autocrat. In effect ho says: "Unless the guilds do what we think thejr should do they should have no legal rights." The talk about pains and penalties which tho registered unions have to submit to is fit to give out to children, but not to grown-up meu. The fact is that a lot of union leaders are fighting bogeys of their own imagination. Section 3 of the I.C. and A. Amendment Act only empowers tho Conciliation Council and Arbitration Court to .hear societies affected, if the council or Court choose 6, and all tho talk about subversion of unions is nonsense. .Tlio men who have formed guilds have chosen to organise in their own way, register as they think best, and ask only for a fair hearing. In those respecte they have done just what trades unionists have done, and wo find 'leading trades unionists objecting, wliioh is most strange—l am, etc., GUILDSIIAN.