Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 4 September 1924, Page 2

Ihk British l.ahor leader, Mr .1. 11. Thomas, now a prominent mouther of the British Cabinet, has been regarded always as a sane and sensible adviser of tile Labor groups one not ready to resort to strikes as a means to gain an end. As a sc<|ucucc to a recent speech at the national union of railway employees in England. Mr Thomas was heartily commended in an American magazine for the .sentiments expressed. The paper remarked that the speech showed the sense of responsibility to the public which is the fundamental thing in the consideration of all industrial problems. The ohliga tion to recognise this responsibility rests alike upon employers and wage-earners. W hen all parties arc animated by this spirit, difficulties will Is' readily settled, and all will share in the benefits that result to the public. Mr Thomas thus addressed the railway employees: - “We i have succeeded, possibly for the first time in history, in establishing confidence between the management and ourselves. That is of immense value to the railway service as a whole. Our men sit down with the other side with confidence and with an independent feeling that they can plead the easo of their fellow workers without fear or favor: and that inspires confidence that is of immense value to the railway

companies and to the public. No mistaken or blind policy .should he followed that is going to shake thnt confidence, because if that policy should be pursued, 1 believe it "ill end in disnster. I go fm-ther, and say to you employees, do not listen to these foolish people who are telling you to do as little as possible. It is not only morally and economically wrong, it is not only dishonest, but it must in the end react to your disadvantage if you are going to say to your companies, we are going to demand the best from you without giving the best in return. The only position that can rightly be taken up is to demand the best for yourselves and to say you are prepared to give the best return for what is given to you. We have reached a stage where our prestige stands high. Wo are looked upon as a great factor in the life of the community. That prestige is something to Ik* safeguarded and preserved. It is something that ought to enable every man to say. I am not only a member of a great union, I am not only a unit in a powerful organisation, but I am jealous of the prestige and honor of the society of which I uni a member; and any member who abuses bis trust not only shakes the confidence of the travelling public in bis industry, but be is doing something that is detrimental to the honor mid perstige of bis organisation. I call upon the moral determination of every man to say. 1 am going to be proud of my union. I am going to be jealous of its honor and reputation. I am going to act honorably to my employer, who is decent to me and to liiv onion, and I myself will provide the cheek against attacks on the industry. That is the moral safeguard "hit’ll should lie taken. That is the kind of thing we want established in the railway service.’' These remarks breathed a spirit ol real loyalty in service, which, if universal, would do more than anything else to bring about those better conditions of employment which arc possible "here there is trust and confidence on both sides. Surely as man to man recognising the need for mutual help and consideration, the attainment of .such a goal would be possible by the adoption of tile eoinmonselise views of labor and reward which Air I homa.s so plainly luges.