The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, MAY 21, 1923.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, MAY 21, 1923.

IN DU ST BIA L CONTEN T.\ I ENT At the close of the National Industrial Conference at Wellington last- Friday, the Prime Minister attended to express the thanks of the Government to the representatives present for their labours. There appears to have been a pleasing atmosphere, and Air Coates in stressing the value to the country of industrial peace and contentment, appeared to have struck a note in keeping with the occasion. The conference was convened at the instigation of the Government when the industrial legislation introduced last session met with such an unfavourable reception. The report of the Conference has now to he assimilated by the Government, and there is time for the preparation of the necessary revising legislation to be brought down in the coming session. The Conference was marked in the main bv a-very amiable discussion. The views of all sides were ventilated with a good deal of detail. In that respect there should he some advance towards a lietter understanding between employer and employed. Just at present events are’happening so far as organised Labour is concerned, which so far as Australia is involved, rather discounts the trend of unionism. New Zealand as far as can lie gathered is free from the serious aspersions cast ui>on the probity and loyalty of Labor in the Commonwealth, and oil that account there is a better atmosphereprevailing here, The extreme steps which the Labour Premier of Queensland is being prompted to take, to say nothing of the policy proposed by the Prime Minister of Australia with regard to the .control of unionism, do not appear to lie justified in New Zealand. Here, there is the recognition of unionism, and the right to organise. At the same time there must not be a one-sided bargain. Whatever concession may be given, the effect on all concerned must be eqiml. The right to strike will have to lie qualified in some way so that any decision coming from an arbitration court may not be openly defied, and the public-penalised. Industrial ponce it should now. be recognised, is essential not only; for the national well-be-ing but for the benefit of the individual. The . worker is the first to feel the dire effects of a strike, because from the outset liis income ceases. A cordial feeling manifested to recognise the justice of each and every award, and New Zealand would be transformed industrially. The feeling of insecurity regarding the production of coal, has prompted the Government to import that commodity and build up reserves as an insurance against a strike. The money sent out of the country to buy the coal would be better retained here for industrial purposes, but the policy of Labour does not encourage that same course. This example indicates where Labour is lieing misled by not adopting a sane policy and agreeing openly to respect the judgments of the. Arbitration Court, as it would accept the judgments of any other civil authority. The promise of Labour to subscribe to a strike—as a means of force to obtain something which it has here decreed, in a lawful way, it is nmt entitled to—creates uqrest and robs Labour of sympathy in many ordinary aspirations. A better spirit promises to prevail. A new feeling seems to he emerging, and if revolutionary ideas are put aside, and law and order subscribed to as essential to the national well-being Labour would reap profitably -from the' reign of industrial peace and contentment which would be brought in.