The Boycott

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 22, 7 August 1890, Page 2

The Boycott

The trades unions which have been formed in all labor employing countries in the world within the last two years, do not appear to have any intention of coufiaiug their demands within the limits of moderation, Iv New Zealand the latest development is that by which a firm doing business in Christchurch, but which does not employ laborers who are members of a union, has had the boycott placed upon it. The unionists do not stop at that point, but go so far as to order the Union s.e. Company and the Rail way Commissioners, to decliue the handling or carrying of goods inanu t'actured by the offending firm. Very properly the Shipping Company hare declined to accede to this command on account of certain legal difficulties which, as •'common carriers," stand iv their way, while the Railway Com missioners have decided to temporise until they see what legal risk they may run by giving way. Of couib while the meu composing the severo! Unions have plenty of funds at their disposal to keep the pots boiling tot men on strike, and remunen-te their paid officials, ttiey are the masters of the position ; but the unpleasant other side of the question is that capital line received a most alarming shock, and will certainly be withdrawn from the various industrial pursuits — especially in the large towns —to be invested where it will not be subject to sudden fluctuations iv value owing to the — momentary — tyranny of labor. That there will be very serious trouble before the end comes we have not the slightest doubt, and our fears are not allayed when we consider the composition of the present Parliament, with its wretchedly weak and time serving Ministry . The only man in it capable of grasping the difficulty with a masterful baud is Sir Hakry Atkinson, and he is physically incapable from illhealth. All the other members of the House are tied hand and foot by their foars that whatever they may do, or however they may act, they may offend the " working man" who wili be a powerful controlling influence at the general election now near at hand. The only mode which suggests itself to us to solve the question is for both parties to submit to arbitration, and accept the award of the arbitrators as fiual. In conclusion we may state that these unions are a first step iv the direction of Free Trade, and therefore a direct menace to that Protection which has already done so much to cripple the colony. For this reason : that Protection is quite as much co-ercion as Trades- Unionism, and when the two are so objectionably in evideuce a revulsion of feeling against both must naturally follow. Tradeß unions properly conducted and administered no doubt are a benefit to all parties, but it is clear that when they are tyrannically used disaster to trade can only result