The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated “The West Coast Times,” SATURDAY, FEB. 26th., 1921.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 February 1921, Page 2

The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated “The West Coast Times,” SATURDAY, FEB. 26th., 1921.

TH E WEE K. It is not so very long ago that everyone "as most slosely interested in affairs on the western front. Nowadays they are chiefly concerned in matters affecting the water front. The position is uncertain to the point of insecurity, Anything may happen and perhaps it would l>e as well if something did happen. There is a sense of insecurity and unseltlement abroad generally, and it is high time in the interests of all concerned that matters were returned to a normal condition so that plans ahead could be laid with some security. The breach between capital and labor has been growing wider and wider, and the healing'balm has evidently not been manufactured yet to produce better conditions. The Welfare League has attempted a thankless task in the endeavour to stand between the two parties and create a better atmosphere. Its efforts' have been in vain so far as nif ward results can be guaged. But the League has spoken sanely, and it is to he hoped that some

of the wisdom it has uttered has found a resting place in the minds of many of the people which make up the masses. It seems manifest that Labor is being blindly and badly led, and matters have reached that stage now when employers are prepared, in fact determined, to take a stand. The employers of New Zealand are following the tactics adopted elsewhere. In Australia, it is clear from the cabled news from that quarter tiiat organised labor realises it has got to fight a determined opposition. It is preparing openly now for definite warfare. It is possible a definite stage in a plain straight-forward struggle is at hand. If so, New Zealand unionists will be bound more or less to act in consort with their federated friends across the water. Willy-

nilly, therefore, the Dominion might at any moment now (apart from the happenings on our own water fronts) he brought into a serious industrial crisis. The general position is therefore of concern to the public at large. It is a notorious fact that in all the strikes and industrial upheavals, very little consideration is given to the general public. Yet, within that fold may be found most often tbo principal sufferers. Invariably they, are the innocent victims of those "'ho act unreasonably and precipitably for doubt-

ful personal gain. The telegrams this week have shown how the fruit growing community at Nelson might suffer by the accentuation of the present waterside trouble. In the same way, we see that the cheese from Hari Hari factory may not be sent forward now because of the hold-up of shipping. The effects caused by the strikes and disputes are thus far-reaoliing, and no section of the community can hope to escape some measure of ill. The law of the land provides a proper tribunal for the settlement of industrial dis-

putes, and if that sound vehicle were used, the public could not be made to suffer as they now do. That is, a dispute would not cause a cessation of work or a general hold up, which now follows the rough and ready methods organised Labor attempts to pursue. If the dispute were referred to the properly constituted tribunal, work would and should proceed under normal conditions and the parties would and should accept the legal decision. The public through this channel of law and order would be protected, and the laborer or employer would receive his fair dues as defined by the legal process. The courts are good enough to determine civil rights in ordinary business relations, and to deal with the freedom of the accused individual in regard to alleged criminal acts. What is satisfactory in this respect for individuals should be no less satisfactory for groups of individuals where the rights and freedom of the many are concerned. The Government as standing principally for the general public is expected to see that tin' law of tlio land is observed and that no section nor party should endanger a whole community by flouting the law and taking the direction of affairs in their own hands.

Ur is to be hoped that /the Government will not let the waterfront emhroglio get out of hand ; neither should they let it go too far. At present signs of concerted action are lacking, but the position is acute enough at some of the main ports, and the general outlook so very unsatisfactory, that in the interests of the country it is high time the Government stepped in, and brought the situation to a climax. If, as it appears, the parties are not prepared to come together in a conciliatory manner, and settle their differences with-

out recourse to a trial of strength—which would he a suicidal act —-then the Government should compel attendance at the proper legaf tribunal to determine the case, and be ready to enforce the decision. There is no' security where there is mob law. Ordered government alone must rule. (Tver and over again it has been made plain to the Government of New Zealand that tlie people are out for the maintenance of law and order. The people will lie behind the Government in all legitimate action to settle the present trouble amicably and fairly. It is not .a question of might being right. Now Zealand went into the war to negative that belief. But right is might and it will prevail—and the Government is the legalised force to maintain the right at all costs. Through no other channel can this be done satisfactorily. The employers may, and probably have, resolved on a line of action to secure what they believe to be their rights, but assuming they will be successful, their victory would not be as complete and as effective as it would were the Government in the exercise of their administrative powers io force peace upon the parties by virtue of the exercise of their prerogative to enlorce the light. Another aspect •is the loss which is being entailed by the present protracted methods of procedure. Delays are not only expensive, they are dangerous. The temper of the people is not improving under irksome conditions, so that actually the time is over ripe for Government action to determinedly settle the matter.

This last conclusion is better guaged by a study of affairs in Australia, which naturally reflect themselves in New Zealand. Across the Tasman Sea organised Labor is talking very large about the position. They are accepting the guage of battle as they deter-

mine it thrown down by the employers. There are two party factions there set upon a bitter fight, and that cannot he for the good of the country. Surely then the Government can step in and take a hand in preventing a national disaster if the settlement is to he left to two parties, which apparently have their minds set on fighting to a finish. Ye arc sure it is not desirable the industrial troubles of the Dominion should be left to, the two parties primarily concerned to settle in such a rough and ready and illogical manner. Tt is clear that one or other party is in the right or partly so, and the party having that in its favor is entitled to hold it without having to uphold its rights in a bitter, .uncompromising struggle. Ihe Government as the third party, is the natural arbiter endowed with ample power to enforce the law of the land, and that is all that is necessary. Labor disputations have dragged on for so

many years now that it would he unnatural were the country not without some trouble or dispute; but in the crude, methods adopted for their settle-

ment 'millions have been lost. The country cannot afford to pursue this expensive course. It needs the money it i costs to settle the disputes. Tt needs the goods or the produce lost while these ’ disputes are in course of rough and ready settlement. Above • all, it needs the industrial stability of the country to lie established on such lines that capital and labor alike will have confidence in each other, and that the country as a whole will return to sane normal conditions so that energy and enterprise will be brought out, and in turn supply more and more avenues for labor, till in the end New Zealand will, become as if has strived always to be. the workmen’s paradise, and strikes and delavs we shall know no more.

Wim.k Australian Labor leaders are contemplating direct action as a speedy means to reach their goal - direct control—English leaders are advising against direct action and the effort to reach their gold through constitutional channels. At Home it is rightly regarded that strikes will but create more aiwl more unemployment, and make the present confusion there worse confounded. The aftermath of the war has created economic conditions, whic-1 affect industry adversely, and no amount of talk can retrieve the stringency of the situation. Work alone—-

more and more production—is the only royal road to a more stable economic condition, This is being realised in Britain, where many thousands of

workers* are accepting the position in the right spirit. They are agreeing to a reduction of wages in preference to unemployment, and are falling in with the, readjustment of labor conditions to enable production to proceed more normally. The sane remarks of Mr Clyno and Mr Thomas might well be taken to heart by the extreme leaders of Australia, whose object is to keep what they hold ,and take in addition what they require. All this without consideration for other issues, or for any thought for others than themselves. In the capital cities of Australia, labor is very much congested and there are living conditions which cannot be brought about in the large cities of New Zealand ; nor can Labor as a distinct party hold the same sway in this Dominion as it does in the Commonwealth. It is quite likely though that Labor here might seek to initiate Australian’s action, and there might be reciprocal action between the two parties, but if that action is to the detriment of the public as a. whole it is doomed to failure despite the apparent strength of organised Labor. Public opinion when moved to composite action is an overwhelming force. It is conceivable that on the groat Labour issues now presenting themselves the public will be forced to action, because it will be the public who will bo the innocent sufferers all the time. When so moved the reign of any party attempting to dominate tho public unfairly will be ent short and retribution will ho swift and sure.