BRINGING THE PARTNERS TOGETHER.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 March 1922, Page 3

BRINGING THE PARTNERS TOGETHER.

MUTUAL INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCE.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION.

The action of the Industrial Corporation of New Zealand in passing u motion unanimously in favour of ‘joint Conferences between the employers and employees engaged in manufacturing enterprises with a view to creating a better understanding of our mutual interests in the development of our secondary industries” is a step in the right direction. We congratulate the Corporation on its decision, though it does not go to the full length that we desire to see taken. We have urged many times, the holding of a National Industrial Conference representative of the interests of employers and employed. It is useless talking, as is so often done, of the partnership between Capital and '(Labour, on which our whole industrial system rests, unless we are prepared in isome practical wages to provide for regular Conferences of the partners. The old idea of treating labour as merely a commodity for sale and purchase, leaving out of consideration the human factormen and women with intelligence, rights and responsibilities —is dying out and must be replaced with a broader conception of human relationship. We commend the statement made by Mr W. Dearsly (Auckland) that “such a conference would only produce good, and a spirit of mutual help would he engendered.” We go further and affirm that there is no valid reason why the Industrial Associations and Corporation should consist solely of employers. Organisations such as these established for the advancement of our industries ought to embrace the entire human element in our industries. It is as much to the advancement if the operatives as the employers that our industries should forge ahead. What of the young men with enterprise and ambition who are growing up in the industries but who are not employers; also the skilled workmen who like to see things go well. These ought to he [ members of the Industrial Associations. The call of our Captains of industry j is to show themselves real leaders by j broadening out. After all an 'Army of I only Captains can he but a poor thing in the field of enterprise, whether the same is industrial or military. FELLOWSHIP OR BELLIGERENCY. It is a very poor tact when making I an njpproach in the way of friendship to j start by criticising the other side when ; ;you desire to meet. In the discussion on above resolution, one speaker summed up the matter in saying that there were only two courses open, “to figlit or confer.” We think it a. pity that some cf the employers approach the matter of Conference with Labour by opening with the sins and shortcomings of the Labour bodies.

Wo note for instance that Mr A. 0. Mitchell (Wellington) trotted out n Conference of the iron industry which failed, the blame being put on the Union representatives. We heard of that Conference two years ago and wonder if it is held in stock as the one bad example to frighten with. Tt is notable that Mr T. Shailer Weston, President of the N.Z. Employers Federation is “belligerent” after using a 1 good many words that the Labour bodies would certainly construe as attacking them. Why will Mr Weston, insist on being his own interpreter. Tt is not what we say hut what the other side understands by it that marks is as belligerent or friendly. Mr Weston in closing says “He felt sure that if the workers would only give the employers policy a fair trial foi a period of eighteen months the country would go a long way in recovering its prosperity. Surely he ought to realize that the fact of his feeling sure makes not the slightest difference as to how the workers feel. The reason probably that the latter will not give the employers policy a fair trial is the common human reason that it is not their policy. It is one-sided and therefore viewed with suspicion and antagonism, a mutual policy pan he evolved then

the publio would be right in asking both sides to give it a. fair trial. The plan of patronising labour, of acting as if there was only one policy, our own, —-will never lead to anything but what we have always had, constant suspicion and conflict. A new spirit is wanted in which the representatives of capital and labour would meet and confer without prejudice. They know where they disagree, then can they not meet without trying to band eacli other and find what poiuts of agreement are open to them :* If the Industrial Associations can secure Industrial Conferences in that spirit they will have done a good work for themselves and for the Dominion. (Contributed by the N,Z. Welfare League.)