RELATIONS OF CAPITAL AND LABOUR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2005, 22 July 1919, Page 3

RELATIONS OF CAPITAL AND LABOUR.

APPEAL FOR MUTUAL TRUST „\XI) GOODWILL.

ADDRESS BY HON. T. Al, WILFORD.

Mailers of special interest at the present time, in view of <lie afier-tlie-war problems to lie faced, were dealt with by the lion. T. 31. V\ i I ford in bis address at the Petono Peace Celebrations on Saturday. Mr Wilford said; “Those who preach (lie divinity of discontent, and put forward no constructive ideas, are as much'an enemy of the Stale as the profiteers and the idle. To endeavour to discredit constitutional action is to endeavour to produce chaos, hot. use every endeavour to make our country At, and not C2. We want a national conference of employers, trades unions, and Government departmental represenlalives to work' out a national industrial pulley and <1 ml out what maehinery is required to make it efleetivo.and helpful. Our strength in the future will be the announcement of a hold, definite, and convincing policy administered in a humane way by strong men, who realise the neeessilies of (he hour and (he ape. Leak-slopping is at the best a pitiful expedient, and, as Will Crooks says, ‘The prayers of a Government Department are likely lo he unavailing' if not accompanied by repentance and effort. ’ Class hatred and industrial warfare will never bring' prosperity and happiness; while (he war has shown us

that no amount of physical force can ultimately prevail against principle, for physical force and principle arc inherently antagonistic. Surely the war has taught us that the world .should be free for all peoples and all classes; and statesmen worthy the name in the future must see that we neither buttress old privileges nor establish new ones. The capitalist and the labourer must be considered in the future as citizens. 1 have no faith that (he war will create a new world. Let ns devote our host efforts to improving the old. There are impossible men in the. ranks of Labour and in, the tents of Capitalism. These are the present obstacles open to the mass of (he people. Let us lift the harrier which has divided captains and privates of industry into hostile camps and hindered production, and realise that a man works best when his work wins him comfort, personal recognition, respect, honour, and reasonable leisure.

CO-OPERATION OP LABOUR AND CAPITAL.

“I do not believe that the co-oper-ation of Capital and Labour is impossible. I admit that co-operati-on on the old terms is impossible; and believe that in the future the capitalist must take less and the labourer must get more for his production. To deny that fundamental basis for the new regime means failure from the outset. The time was never so opportune as now for a serious attempt lo be made to arrive at an amicable understanding and a working agreement based on mutual trust and goodwill. Never mind wbat the dillicnlties are, though they appear insuperable; remember that (be prize of industrial unity can never be won without a struggle. The, national conference will not cure all ills, but if it cures' some of the ills it will leave less to light about aftenvards. Trades unionists, 1 feel certain, would meet employers and depa it mental representatives and after each had told the other frankly what they thought of the position, they could settle down to business. If there are any men in this country whose, living depends on the maintenance of industrial strife and whose mission is one of disruption and anarchy, I do not, of course, expect their co-operation. None of my wVjrds will appeal to (hem, hut I believe deep down in the hearts of the majority of New Zealanders there is a genuine love of country and a wish for industrial peace; and, though I agree that the old commission of things must change and profits in business undertakings must be differently ap-, portioned, yet I think there is room for a conference, room for sion, room for give and take, and room for concessions without disrupting the commercial foundations upon which trading rests,

LABOUR IS CAPITAL. “Proht-sha ring and cooperation is at the Lest a partial palliative. The casual labour problem is the hurdle at which such a scheme must baulk. We must learn to deal with labour as if it is capital—for it is

capital. Timt cannot be denied; and we must realise that the political, doctrine to-day is one of collective interest. I believe the war lias made most of us less petty and has taught us mutual dependence, self-sacri-fice, tolerance, and goodwill. I agree with Dr. Brent where he says, ‘The day is past for individualisticeffort to .help mankind. Let us, therefore, get together;”