FOR INDUSTRIAL PEACE.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 May 1920, Page 1

FOR INDUSTRIAL PEACE.

THE WILSON CONFERENCE. REPORT. SAN FRANCISCO, April 7.

A contribution towards industrial peace ,which may have a most important Influence upon the future of labour and capital in America, is that of the industrial) conference called at Washington by President Wilson, which has just issued its report. The vice-chairman of this conference was Mr Herbert Hoover, the celebrated engineer; and its findings 1 bear evidence of that keen insight into industrial problems which Mr Hoover has shown in his writings since the war ended and he returned to Europe. The basic .solution arrived at is the encouragement of mutual understanding and agreement between employers and employees. A minimum of governentaj machinery is provided. The principle of collective bargaining is accepted. The idea of the system is to briiig to hear continuously upon the problems cropping up in industrial establishments the intelligence of the owners and workers directly interested in these, with the object of preventing misunderstandings and of increasing production.

Disputes are to be handled by means of a. Government investigation, for which either party may be asked. Public opinion here enters into the proposition. Should both parties agree to arbitration, the investigating commission may become a Board of Conciliation; otherwise, the party rejecting investigation risks the loss of public support. No penalty other than this is provided; that it is in itself a severe one, recent experience with industrial troubles seems to have abundantly established.

Government interference with industry is limited to mere enquiry. The report gives a warning that unless some •such form of independent adjustment of disputes be accepted, public opinion will force a more drastic plan of sterner character. The object is to bring capital and labour into an association, for mutual advantage, which, without prejudice to the present legitimate rights of powers of either, may yet protect the public from the evils of under-pro-duction and the dangers of class warfare.

A national organisation is outlined, with one central board and regional bodies to cover local districts. 'The railways and other carriers are not provided for, having been taken care of already by leg isi ation passed by Congress. The workers are not denied the right to strike, nor is capital refused the right to lock out. The public is given the right to know, by means of an official investigation, why and how disagreement has come about.