THE Kaipara Advertiser, AND WAITEMATA CHRONICLE. WEDNESDAY, NOV. 12 1913. INDUSTRIAL STRIFE.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 12 November 1913, Page 2

THE Kaipara Advertiser, AND WAITEMATA CHRONICLE. WEDNESDAY, NOV. 12 1913. INDUSTRIAL STRIFE.

.Few people will deny the right of workers to got as much as they possibly can for the labor they expend in the service of other*. So long us the industrial and social conditions continue such as at present predominate, the workers are fully justified in their efforts to exact the highest returns and most favorable facilities for carrying out the duties incidental to their particular sphere of labor. Generally it is also freely conceded that workers have a right to combine to protect their joint interests, and unionism is therefore; widely acknowledged. But unionism should not be confounded with the deplorable methods advocated and practised by leaders of Labour in this country. Under a regime of the Federation all agreements made with employers are valueless and industrial peace practically impossible..

Strikes are always harmful to the community, and to none more so than the workers. The innocent have to suffer with those who are at fault, and the strike should only be introduced when all other methods have failed to adjust grievances. In the present trouble the Federation's stupid and ignorant tactics of strike first and discuss the reason afterwards has brought about a position deplored by every reasoning person in the country.

It has been practically admitted that the watersiders were in wrong in breaking the agreement under which they were working, but that brings no solution of the problem, which has now become more complex by the decision of the employers not to further recognise the Federation. The position that farmers have taken up in manning and protecting the ports to prevent serious and irreparable loss to those engaged in the funning industry is decidedly a fair one and in the country's best interests. The riotous and regrettable intimidation tactics

adopted by some of the strikers could scarcely meet with the approval of anyone with, a spark of interest in the country's welfare, and the response for protectors of public rights has been

of a most gratifying nature. To us there is only one feasible scheme of abolishing strikes, and that is by the adoption of a profit-sharing scheme, which ensures to the worker nearly the full product of his labor. Herein is the palliative for much of the dissatisfaction that creeps in between employer and employed under the ordinary conditions. Conspicions success has followed the introduction of the scheme in many notable instances, whilst we have not met with one case of failure. The parties agree on a fair -working wage, the business is carried on Wjth a cooperative idea of control, a fair percentage is allowed for capital invested, after which the balance becomes available for pro-fit-sharing purposes. The scheme is well beyond the experimental stage and its wider adoption will assuredly tend to bring about a more satisfactory state of affairs in industrial circles.