The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, MARCH 5th, 1925. LABOR UNREST.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 March 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, MARCH sth, 1925. LABOR UNREST.

There is labor unrest within the fold as without, This is evidenced by the action at the State Mines, Runanga, where there is a protest, apparently

effective, against the continuance of co-operative contracts. The case for co-operative contracts is very fully p in the Grey “Argus” by Mr .1. ]•'. Pattinson, the Mayor of Kmianga, who is also President of the. Miners Pnion. Mr Pattinson is a co-operative worker, and lie is at some pains in the press to explain why he is so. We need not follow the dispute between himself and party and the fellow Unionists, as to whether or not the co-operative contracts should subsist. Hut we are interested in his categorical statement as to why he favors the contracts in the abstract. Here are some of his ieasuns: That tlic co-operative contract project as yet lias proved saiisl actory. That a better feeling exists between the management and the men. The members of the Union have ban over four months to interest themselves for or against, hut have failed. That all the men in the eontiaet prefer the new to the old.

That it is contrary to human progression for any person's individuality and initiative to be subdued by mmiiiterosted persons. That alter holding official positions in tlie Union for seventeen years, T (ail be trusted to see that the men do not suller worse conditions. That I am a const met ion ist. not a destnictionist.

That it cannot affect adversely the activities of the Union. That I am opposed to stop-woik meetings for winch no one knows the

reasons. 'Mail the industry requires stabilising and this can he achieved while the workmen at tin? same time receive a better reward for the work done. That the Binns Extended is a separate mine, and all the men engaged are in the contract:. That- we have a .say in the manage merit. Uni tiler, the agreement with the Mines Department is outside the jurisdiction of the Union, but would have come under the Union had the members been interested. ° Mr .L’attinsnn in giving the <ase lor himself, really gives the case for the public as a whole in these matters. The project has proved satisfactory to the workers r-nd employers, and it is not desirable to til set mutual arrangements. Particularly is this so, where as in this case, a better feeling exists between the men and the management. Mr Pnttinson strikes the dominant note of the whole scheme of laboi, when he states the person’s individuality and initiative should not be at the mercy of outsiders. Here is the crux of the whole tiling which leads so olten to industrial troubles. And in this connection it is good to have Mi Pnttinson’s clear statement that he is u constructionist and not a dcstruetionist. Here he apparently sets himself against the Union bent on pulling down,"ami breaking up a harmonious situation. That lias happened often before in these days when very stupid things are being done in the name o! unionism. Bodies of men inflamed by the wild talk of agitators and indiscreet leaders are responsible, and it would appear that is the case at Uuna„ga where the advice of Mr Pnttinson who has been a trusted leader tor some time is to he denied now freedom of action by the hulk of his fellow unionists. Mr 'Puttinson says very [properly that the industry requires stabilising anil lie was out to assist to do so. hut along come the destmetionists and commence their pulling down. Mr Pnttinson puts his trust in his agreement. but a Labor leader liefore today lias consigned agreements to a hot place, where they would he consumed quickly, and though he may claim that his agreement is outside the Union, the unionists handed together have but to declare the coal be produces “black” (in the Labor sense), and he will he out of a job forthwith, because the authorities have not yet decided to light this octopus of insane Labor to a finish. So Mr Pnttinson must suffer with the rest of the community, of whom he is now a unit apparently, while his fellow unionists ride rough shod over agreements and all that is right. That is where Labor unrest is heading unless more men of Mr Pattinson’s way of thinking enter the lists and bring the generid body or unionists to a saner way of thinking and acting.