PULL TOGETHER

Hokitika Guardian, 21 February 1921, Page 1

PULL TOGETHER

THE NEED FOE CO-OPERATION

WHERE UNITY IS WISDOM

Ae are living in a strenuous age " hen tile powers oi light and darkness truth and falsehoods are in close conflict. The danger is that in the heat of

constant conflict human frailty of judgment may lead most individuals to assume that they have all the light and truth whilst any who differ from them are in outer darkness. There is need, constant need, for the people of the British Empire to remember that whatever parly or sect we belong to, whether workmen or capitalists no are after all one people saddled with tremendous responsibility as members of the great combinatbn of free nations D al is known as Imperial Britain, and may equally l e spoken of as the world ' i'o British Commonwealth. The vast Dominions, which have risen from the grand old Motherland, hailed with delight the advent of their Prince who came amongst us, being absolutely one oi us. The touch of majesty and humanity expressed in bis manly British representation was an inspiration towards that which is most vital—unity as a poeple. Since the visit to his p '<>ple overseas the Prince of Wales has ’-'.Men to the Empire a motto crouched in the language of the common people, “pull together” are all the words used and yet they carry the whole lesson of

V hat is most necessary for the common welfare of all. Thinking men and women of all parties realise that in this time of stress and trial unity is more than strength, it is wisdom. Even those who, in the passion of an abstract desire to follow their own w ill in all things, would dismember the Empire yet pause at times to affirm that with ‘‘self determination’’ they would couple association with the lands now hound together in the Imperial bond. Whether we are considering social, industrial or political relations within this far-flung Commonwealth to whi'-h we belong, or our associations with friendly people of other nations, t'e value of sincere co-operation in the

g eat work of human advancement -hould never he forgotten. In regard tu social relationship we might keep in mind that when Britain and her Allies were in the most dire straits the British Empire won through because her people realised their duty. As Kipling put it there was “Duke’s son, (ink’s son. son of a belted Earl,” all pulling together. There was hut one class—the people, and one parly—the nation. This recognition of a common birthright in our free citizenship is the bond that should control in peace lime as well as in war. The aristocracy of manhood and the spiritual fellowship of character and high thoughts is the only ideal of class that is of real value.

The class consciousness of fools may yet exhibit itself in the superciliousness of wealthy ignorance of the sulky ■hatred of the unthinking labourite, but men and women who reason will realise that citizenship transcends station whilst the line of progress for the general welfare is to “pull together.” The words “self determination” and

■‘liberty” in the sense of doing just v. liiit ue individually please are very attractive. Though we have read passionate protests (hat led only to dismemberment we have come across no apostle of secession who stopped to define the limits of their proposed dissolution of partnership. To pull separate means a process of dissolution and on this course, in application to our Empire, all the nations may go alone, England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, Canada, Africa, each in splendid isolation of independence. The right to pull apart still remains for the States and Counties of these nations. No ; better by far is the plan of unity—‘‘pull together.” We know that the Trades Colonists of all these lands are being counselled by mislenders to support the cause of disunity. It is a monstrous appeal to incite the workers who believe ip unionism to aim at disruption, non-unionism and the whole policy of distrust which breeds accentuated hatred. As in national affairs so also in industrial matters are we faced with the same choice of “pulling together’’ or work ing in antagonism. The whole industrial issue is one of partnership or warfare, and we stand for the policy that makes for partnership. Neither capital or labour can stand alone. They mutually depend on each other and there is therefore a most solid reason why they should seek to ‘‘pull together.” It is an easy matter to show that in specific instances where labour and capital have gone to war with each other both have suffered severely and neither have gained anything but added human experience, whilst the nation in every instance is poorer as a result of the conflict.

To take one single instance. According to Mr Bridgeman, Secretary of Mines, the loss in output through ‘lie coal strike in England, brief as it was, amounted to over 13 million tons, while the loss in wages to the miners alone was over £14,000,000. These losses represent hut a small percentage of the total loss to the industries and the people of Great Britain. We appeal as an antidote for this sort of destruction for closer partnership between cm ployers and employed. The method ot handling industrial questions on the basis of seetional disputes, which is about as far as we have got in New Zealand, is most unsatisfactory. Tn these trade contests the parties are concerned mainly with their own interests and the general relations/of all industries is passed over as being nobody’s particular business. Instead of contests, whether in conferences or before a Court, over demands and counter demands we suggest it would be bettci if employers and employed would.come together and candidly discuss the state of trade, conditions of living, prices ruling and such cognate questions as

really govern the economic adjustments of wages, hours and conditions of work. This would be a step towards effective co-operation. It would be evidence of a desire to “pull together” and until we ns a people get down to this method of candid reason it means that we shall never be free from the petty warfare, stoppages of trade and general loss from which the public suffer. To produce the best for all'there is no other rule to go upon than the motto of “pull together.” (Contributed by the N.Z. Welfare League).