Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY. FEB. 6 1917 LABOR TROUBLES.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 February 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY. FEB. 6 1917 LABOR TROUBLES.

The labor troubles at Wellington and elsewhere have been simmering for some time past, and it is not quite clear now that they are settled. It would seem that the tronbles are but postponed. The men have been very wise to agree to return to work. Any upheaval at this juncture over working conditions would be quite a calamity to labor in particular for it would mean the alienation of all public sympathy. Without that backing strike methods could not possibly succeed. In agreeing to return to work the men should also adopt the sensible course of agreeing to the settlement cf ihtir complaints by the legal machinery provided. With great care the country has gone to the extent of providing the machinery to adjust all labor tronbles, and to maintain a system which is in existence primarily for the advantage of labor. The labor laws of this country. have gone a long way towards the uplifting of labor, and giving it a security and a (standing it could never have won unaided. While labor is prepared to use this machinery eo long as it serves to win suits for the organisations, labor is prepared to respect the decisions, but not only in this country, but elsewhere where the Dominion form of legislation has been copied, labor i 3 prepared to refuse to obey decisions when they are given against the organisation. This course of action can never stand. It is somewhat akin to the tearing up of the scrap of paper which has resulted ' in each a conflagration in Europe. A bargain cannot be one sided, There must be two parties involved, and if the bargain is to be kept and respected, it must be strictly observed by both sides. Labor has shown signs both in New Zealand and Australia to dissent from court findings where they do not uphold the demands made on behalf of labor. It is apparent that Labor has made great advances during the last quarter of a century, due to the beneficence of the labor legislation. That advancement discloses the general fairness of the administration of the law, and seeing that it has woiked eo equitably it should be accepted in particular by those who have derived substantial benefits from its operations. Libouc ' would be wall advised to be amiable end conciliatory at this stage. It is clear that in Wellington the employers were quite prepared for a trial of strength. Matters went just far enough to show that for purposes of security the employees are well organised. In any effort to reach a goal by other than constitutional means juet now, the organisers weald find themselves in a hopeless minority. Public opinion is quite against lawlessness and disorder, and seeing that the law has pt 1 .Ida course for tha automatic set : nc of all disputes which might arise, the forc3 or strike methods whioh some would readily attempt will not be tolerated. Wbßtbtr

Lbor has decided to wait for a more convenient Benson is not clear, bat it is plain that in the present instance the men have been well advised to return to wotk and do tho fair thing. It was just obvious enough that any other coarse might have had serious consequences, and it ia well for all concerned these did not arise.