The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated "The West Coast Times.” THURSDAY, JUNE 23rd, 1921. LABOUR TROUBLES.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 June 1921, Page 2

The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated "The West Coast Times.” THURSDAY, JUNE 23rd, 1921. LABOUR TROUBLES.

In discussing the fundamental causes of labour difficulties, an American magazine, after an exhaustive review of the British coal strike, sums up the position from ah experience, of the course of events in the United States, by stating that the combatant sides need to think out a settlement in terms of their common interests, and to take in account [lie natural forces which are always adjusting inequalities. The real gains of society, the paper points out, come by improving the methods of production so that there will be more to divide, instead of by the rival efforts of individuals and groups to get the better of each other. Organisation that is intelligently guided, so that its efforts for group advancement arc consistent with the general welfare, can lie very helpful, but if ignorantly directed for I lie purpose of advancing the interests of one group or class at the expense of of all the others, they simply throw (lie industrial situation into confusion and do injury to all. That is the chief trouble at the present time. Society is orumisri 1 almost to death. Industry is hampered and cheeked on every side by the efforts of groups to enforce demands which interfere with the free play of economic forces, create friction and waste, and even when successful finally, nullify each other to such an nvlcut flint there is no net gain to any r un. No class is free from blame in 11,is situation, and the remedy for it is in a better understanding of common interests. People act according to their ' nowlcdgc and beliefs, and the state of disorder and hostility that exists in industry is due mainly to ignorance of the actual effects of the policies commonly pursued. Tr the people of the various groups think that the only o'-ospect of bettering their condition is i v .grife. and that some people are bet--off fhn nhtliers simply because they have bad some advantage over them, of , nurse there will bo strife.

T|rv chief criticism of the labour organ! satem- is that to a great' exTent this ■ i.,„ pc ( ,n uppermost with them

They have cultivated the idea of class struggle, rather than of a fundamental harmony of interests. The view of industrial relations field by too many labour lenders was expressively stated by Mr Garretson, head of the order of a railroad conductors, in a speech befor c the Economic Club of New York, December 11, 1916, in part, in the following language. Industrial war is precisely of the same character as actual war. No battle lias been fought in establishing the rights of mankind, either real or - fancied, where the hospital hasn’t been filled afterwards, and the corpses left upon the field. And it L just so in industrial. If you complain that ffiur hundred fchoiism men held up the Government, what will eight millions of them do, if they can, to -hold up the Government ? They have encouraged the idea of rebellion against the regularly constituted authorities unless their own views wore adopted in public policies. They have concentrated their attention upon immediate and direct gains to their members, with too little regard for the effects of their demands and methods upon the general welfare. Wo do not question their sincerity in what they have done. Wo only say that their actions arc the natural, result of their view, and that this view lias been too limited for th 0 best results even to their own members, and their policies have created much antagonism to their organisations which might have been avoided. Just now they are agitated over th„ stand of the open shop that has been taken by many American employers, but that stand’is the natural result of the arbitrary methods that they, themselves, have used too often, and of tlq, tendency to curtail produc tinn which is the natural result of their teachings. Every organisation that aspires to wield great power in the community must expect to justify its claims by the intelligence with which il exercises power and the consideration which it shows for public interests By these tests the labor organisations have not justified their plea for a largely increased authority over industry. The British situation affords the host justification that lias been offered for the policy of the United States Steel Corporation.