LABOUR CONSTRUCTIVE POLICY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2536, 30 January 1923, Page 4

LABOUR CONSTRUCTIVE POLICY.

A MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. PROPOSED TRADES COUNCILS’ FEDERATION. The Labour movement all the world over, being of the mass, is most' complex in character. At times it appears to onlookers, and even to those attached to it, to be a mass of contradictions. After all it is a matter of “many men, many minds.” There are those whose sole idea of Labour policy is contained in the phrase —“smash capitalism and the capitalists,” and there are others, who see that little real good can be done for the people except by a broad minded, patient and constructive policy of steady education and reform of Social Institutions. New Zealand had the reputation for. many years of being a country of steady minded people who were engaged in the work of social reform on lines of well thought out constructive undertakings. Whilst other countries pursued more exuberent lines of thought and action to the extent, in some instances, of cataclysmic revolutions the New Zealand people carried on as a nation of earnest plodders. There is no doubt that, in the main, our people have a practical turn and believe that it is work that tells. Our country has been spoken of as the Laboratory of social legislation and from the experiments we have entered upon relating to Factory laws, regulations of hours and conditions of work, workers compensation for accidents, safeguarding life and limb, health conditions and other Labour or Social protective measures, the term has been justly applied. There is a fear, however, in the minds of many that Labour has ceased to be in any wise constructive and is disposed at present to

rely upon forcing Hie pace lor big revolution. It is the case that certain leaders and a good many of the rank and file have indulged in a good deal of revolutionary talk. They have put forward ideas akin to those which the Russian Bolshevists have experimented in with destructive effects. It has been observed, however,, that when Labour, as an organised political party, faces the electors it hastens to shed its revolutionism. It was very noticeable in the recent Parliamentary elections how the Labour candidates scoffed at the idea that their aims were in any wav violent or revolutionary. From most of them what was enunciated on the hustings was a profession of progressive Liberal and democratic views. This fact indicates that even the most extreme recognise that the New Zealand people are not for revolution but welcome progress by stages of constructive reform. For the social legislation of our country the Unions of workers, and particularly past Trades and Labour Councils deserve some credit. TRADES COUNCILS’ FEDERATION. - From a statement made by Mr J. Read, president of the Wellington Trades and Labour Council we learn that an improvement is in hand to form such Councils into a National Federation. The objects in view are to maintain the system of Arbitration as a means of settling industrial disputes; to bring to bear the, advice of a National organisation of Labour on the improvement of Labour Legislation; to remove defects and institute reforms “and generally speaking, to work in a constitutional manner for the improvement of the position of the workers as a whole.” This, in our opinion, is a move in the right direction. The old Trades Councils’ Federation did some good work, and for many years the public read reports of its annual conferences with much interest for the suggestions therein made. It is further desirable, as Mr Read points out, that the Unions should have a national organisation to act as guide, and may we add consultant, for their representatives on the Arbitration Court. In the public interest it is better to have the considered opinions of a National Federation of Trades and Labour Councils, on the matter and decisions of industrial disputes, than rely on the ex parte statements of single officers, such as the secretaries, who, we fear, are sometimes considering their own position in the criticism they offer of the Arbritation Court.

MORE CONSTRUCTIVE WORK. We agree with the Wellington Trades Council that more permanent gain will lie found from the method they now propose than has been secured by the methods of abstract programmes advocated during the last fifteen years. Legislation which is tile result of not merely heated demands in times of excitement but. is steadily constructed from constant review in commit tees, councils and conferences is likely to prove of greatest, value both to the wage-earners and the general public. Looking hack we can remember the time when the Trades Council gave a good deal of attention to the question of fostering and strengthening our local industries. Tliis was an important, plank in Labour’s platform .for many years. Of late this line of activity has been neglected and we hope to see interest, in it revived.

There has been, without offence let us say it, too strong a tendency on the part of Labour Unions to concentrate wholly upon what share of wealth should the workers get and to lose sight of the other important question of what there is going to be to share. If the Labour Councils will take up the matter on broad lines of what is best not merely for the workers as a whole, but for our whole people, our industries and the Dominion as a nation they can perform most valuable service. In the improvement now projected there is scope for much benefit to all, and we desire to heartily commend the Trades and Labour Councils in the work they are now undertaking. (Contributed by the N.Z. Welfare League.)