The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 27, 1925. UNIONISM AND BETTER CONDITIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 November 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 27, 1925. UNIONISM AND BETTER CONDITIONS.

The value of trade lmioni.sm for the betterment of labour conditions is undoubted. The laiv of the land has assisted greatly in that direction, but when the economic aspe; t arises, it is for the unionists to work out their own salvation, Theie is no great reservoir of wealth, as a writer lias just noted, from which can be drawn better wages and more leisure not earned by the unionists themselves. Little adjustments may be made here and there, but the influence of these will be small. In the L'nited States probably the highest general wages in the world are paid. They can he paid because first of all they are earned. American trades unionists have recently reaffirmed their determination not to mix trades unionism and politics. The industrial atmosphere there is consequently clear and wholesome. We. continues the writer, are considering the question broadly, not forgetting that America also lias its sprinkling of fanatics and extremists. These have not. however, been able to infect American workmen with false economic notions to anything like the extent that the noisome propaganda has been disseminated in Australia and Now Zealand. One reason for that may lie the refusal of all sides to entertain the idea of having industrial affairs compulsorily regulated. Our .system of industrial arbitration. unfortunately, has its had features, in that it nuts great power into 'die hands of the few who are executive officers of unions. A proportion of the men who hold office make only legitimate use of their power. Probable that it because the membership of their particular unions takes a keen and persistent interest in the conduct of affairs. A greater proportion of the union officials, we are afraid, use their powers for ulterior purposes. They regard them as political weapons, to lie wielded for the furtherance of personal or group ambitions, or, worse

still, for the spread of vicious doctrines imported from abroad. Despite this, compulsory arbitration, with its preliminary essentials, union organisation and registration, remains in the policy of all parth ular parties. And in arbitration there is the factor which makes strikes unnecessary if unionists are prepared to abide by the law. It is a fact that the law is respected so long only as the decisions favour unionists, hut there, are some unionists led so hadlv that the moment there is something not to their liking, a strike is hastily resolved upon. The settlement of industrial relationships being possible by the lawful process of sane arbitration, ft follows that there should he a general discountenancing of direct and forceful methods. I'nion leaders who persistently embroil the members whom they represent in stoppages of work and quarrels outside the Courts with their employers, are consequently out of harmony with the scheme of things. We assume that the average trades unionist- whose organisation seeks the kenelit of the Courts wishes to play the game-to have regular and well-paid work in the interests of himselt and his- dependents, and to give his employer a fair deal in return. The union leader wlm is a sort ot permanent liremand does not permit those principles to operate. He negatives such cl them as are designed to give the mass of men regularity and security ot employment. He is a menace to the community as well as the unionists. This is being recognised more and more generally. Best, of all it is being recognised in Australia where menacing leadership of the unions has worked such industrial havoc. I here is a cleavage indicated already, and the awakening for the good of Australia industrially has not (sane a moment too soon. The desire of some unionists to enforce job control is one of the most serious aspects for the worker. Job < ontrol affects the worker economically, fur it tends to reduce production and output. By such means wages must fall, and employment deteriorate. It is hv work alone that the economic conditions of the labourer can be really benefited. Any advantage otherwise i- artificial and at the cxpeii.-c ol some one e Ise. thus robbing labour as a whole ol essential capita! to create more production am! so more work.

','nionism il it is to he of I end'd to the worker must pul aside those leaders u ho are torever countenancing strikes and such like hold tips. That is the road to ' industrial ruin, and long ore this the obvious lesson must he realised by the workers. hi those leaders prone to strike at every opoortiiiiitv. the workers should wish to he saved from, mi that unionism will win its reward honestly by good work and fair dealing man to man.