OUR OWN BUSINESS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 120, 23 May 1941, Page 6

OUR OWN BUSINESS

Members of the Wellinglon Carpenters' and Joiners' Union —or a greater number of them—recently decided to manage their own affairs. They did so only after their altitude to the war had been seriously misrepresented by a minority who put forward an anti-war remit. Probably many union members knew the views of the minority, but thought it did not matter and did not take the trouble to protest until they found that they were included in the indignation rightly aroused by ihe anliwar motion. Then they took action, rescinded the anti-war resolution, removed the minority leaders from office, and demonstrated just how grossly misrepresentative of carpenters' views were the proposals put out by that minority. The matter has a moral for all trade unionists

and, indeed, all members of the public. As the carpenters decided to attend to I heir own business and not leave it. to a. few, so the public must recognise that public business is the concern of every individual, not to be left to a small and clamant section. There are signs that the truth of this is being more widely perceived and is being followed by action, that all kinds and classes of people are showing keener interest in what is being done in their name, and are disposed to protest if the policy does not agree with their own views. This is all to the good. Democracy is a splendid system of government, but it will only work satisfactorily if it is worked by live democrats.