“HEADS WE WIN,TAILS YOU LOSE.”

Hokitika Guardian, 15 October 1921, Page 4

“HEADS WE WIN,TAILS YOU LOSE.”

THE SHEARERS UNION TACTICS. PLAYING WITH ARBITRATION. i Contributed by the X.Z. Welfare League). Tlte judgment of a Court of the land is Pot ohe tlmt should lie played with, whether it is the Court of industrial Arbitration or any other. We have our private opinions on the decisions ol Magistrates and .fudges, but whatever our personal opinion is once the Court has deeided those having a real respect for the law of the land how ami su! mil to the decision. To oppose legal decisions whenever they do not suit, us if generally followed out Would land the country in a state of cliaus. We regret to find that whilst tin wool trade is in a state ol depression the Shearers Union, led hy Mr I - Grnyndler. Secretary, seems to think their host plan is to tipple the run-, ns between them selves and the Sheen Owners, of "heads we win, tails yon lose.” It is reported that men who were prepared to shear at tho rates fixed bv the Arbitration Com l, were accosted hy the way and inllreteed , lint to take tlu* work. 11l view of the

existing unemployment it appears strange to find men refusing work. Who are the direct advisers ol the men not to take work at the rales fixed hy the Court we do not know. The general attitude of Mr Grnytidler, and other leaders, appears t*> bo that il the Court had given an Award fixing rales which they considered light, it would have been thought proper to respect that decision, and the employers should he compelled to do so, hut the rate being lowered on a tailing market (no uncommon occurrence! every step in the way ol suggestion, special pleading and quibbling on technicalities is deemed right in preventing the actual operation ol the AwardT On the 1 Itli of last month Mr Grnyndler said "his Council had been definite in their instruction” anil, again, "it is immaterial to us whether tit,- public consider this attitude tantamount to a strike or not. Now it is m t disclosed what the "definite instructions" were, but it is notable that this redoubtable leader takes the stand of "pooh! that for public opinion.’ He forgets that the public mat reciprocate wlien his Union really needs assistance. The public often seems slow and stupitl. hut in the end is deadlt certain in its reprisals. If the whole shcaiing industry is to In- stuck up in Older to serve the sectional interests of certain Labour Over Lords the public, which must stiller, i- likely to remember. Reduced to ground terms we find the attitude ‘H C. Gravmllcr to he. tint tlmt ol *i leader 'with a full sense of responsibility, but a flippant, captious and t:uketv debater for point - wit bent proper toga id for what may become of the industry. He writes of "one member nf the Court being on strike and t -- Other two locked ' out,” and that Sir Francis Bell in the Governor Gettotal mat see lit to intervene, ami yetiiy Hie confusing errors that have 1 m a made in the Award" simph- chil-h i attempts at smartness helping no one. 'lbe fact stands out that when the wool mat ket was high 'he xheaiets acre able to get a benefit in the high rate li.xcd for "shearing, and now win n lmat ki I is down the rate lollow -. Other people have to hear rcdl'ct tons for the same reasett ami < 'out I or no Court the law would operate. It is plating with Arbitration to say we "■ te.speet the Court's decision "lieu it gives us what we waul, but when il does not we will denounce it.. 'I he question of whether the recent Shett:Award applies to practically all Hie Dominion or only Wellington district we leave for the Labour Department and Mr Grnyndler to settle. Ar the same time we contend that in.* Government should take strong action to prevent stoppage ol the imlustit. The Labour Department lias pointed the moral of clause .'ll. but moralising ami discussion is not. sufficient. 'I he clause named and all other poweis to pi event interference with the operation of the law should he promptly, firmly and impartially applied from now on. If Arbitration is mu to degenerate into a mere legal farce and the law treated, as the paw n. .of industrial tiickerv, then the Government must ,-n-iiic that the full powers ol the Slat.- shall lie apnllcil ill elilorcing the law and decisions without delay, and without fear or favour.