The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) TUESDAY, SEPT. 18th, 1923. VALUES AND EMPLOYMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) TUESDAY, SEPT. 18th, 1923. VALUES AND EMPLOYMENT.

A ritoros the subject ventilated in this column yesterday regarding the stoppage of work at- the coal mines, the matter of values and employment naturally arises. Labor claims the right to work, and that will be conceded where tin 4 value is given. Just at present the employment of the coalminers is being restricted in the north, because it is alleged the workmen are lint giving value for wages. The trade of any country, whether with individuals or for the State, is the barometer which gives an index of the national prosperity. In most well regulated administrations there are departments which record the volume of trade, and in the published statistics there is a record of the quantity and value. Some comment on the manufactures in New South AAales is before us. This, of course is distinctive from the aspect- of production entailed by coal mining, but the final •conclusions disclose tbe- ultimate losult of all trading, the profit and loss of the business. Tn the manufacturing trades of Now South Wales, the first striking feature is tbe variation in the cost ol material used in the production of the finished article. The next aspect to arrest. attention is the variation ol proportion, which materials bear to the total value of output. Thirdly there was the fluctuation of wages, which over the term reviewed declined between 1913-1918, but since then has been using in relation to output value, and is now iit the highest point. Finally, there are the profit figures, with a net return of less than ten per cent, from which has still to he deducted the expense of insurance and of advertising, and payment of rates and taxes. The remainder is the profit on the capital employed. It will thus he seen that the otractioii for capital is not very marked, and with rising wages the outlook is not very promising. Thanks to the principle of arbitration the wages of the working man have been raised steadily, and arc maintained in keeping with living conditions. The labor laws of this country wero designed for the protection of t-lie working man, and their operation is invariably in his favor in regard to rates of pay, hours and working conditions. Under the law of the land, labor in the Dominion has I ice n uplifted, and tho liest return labor could give for that consideration would he to rsopcct the deliberate judgments cf the court, and in regard to work, give a fair day’s work in return lor the equitable payment fixed by tbe court of awards. Under tbe arbitration system as designed, it was intond<xl that the principle of conciliation and arbitration should remove all cause for friction between labor and capital. When the law enforces an increase in wages, capital meets the position readily, but labor does not respond as readily when all its demands are not conceded. It- sulks. It goes slow. It proceeds to ca’canny. That is not* fair nor just. While administration of the law is in its favour, labour takes all tile advantages it can from the favored treatment, but when there is a fancied slight or rebuff, it uses its power in some menacing way to discount the judgment of those in authority. A contented community is the best security for prosperity, but it does not seem possible to content labor, and under the' bond of unionism, by the weight of its numerical strength it endeavours io dominate the position, even to the flouting of the law. This is not in keeping with the welfare dUthe community as a whole the stability of which is founded on a real unity. I ill labor is more sensible in these matters; till there is a due respect for the administration of the law, tlieie will lie these recurring instances cf labor excesses which invariably mar public progress and which always react to the detriment of true labor interests.