BISHOPS' COUNSEL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17688, 28 July 1919, Page 9

BISHOPS' COUNSEL

• I ALLAYING LABODB UNREST. I A ROMAN OAiHQLIO VIEW. The National Catholic War Council, represented by the American Bishops of Rookford, Tole<k>, Tagaate, and Ouarloston, has issued a plan o£ social reconstruction which is unique in its support of tho highly progressive attitude taken toward tho solution of prueont-day industrial problems. Among , the defects of tho industrial system of to-day i it mentions " the enormous uiemoioncy and waste in the production and distribution of commodities; insufficient incomes for tho great majority of wase-earners, and unneces- . sarily large incomee for a small minority of privileged capitalists." Coming down to actual principles of labour conditions under which fcho American employee should bo allowed to work, the first suggestion made is the continued maintenance of the National 'War Labour Board. Ite work during war-times is succinctly summed up as follows:— ■ "Upon the basis of a few fundamental principles, unanimously adopted by the representation of Labour, Capital, and the public, it has prevented innumerable strikes, and raised wages to decent levels in many different industries throughout the country. Its main guiding principles have been 'a family wage for all male adult labourers; recognition of the right of Labour to organise and to deal with employers through the chosen representatives; and no coercion of _ non-union labourers bv members of the \ union. The principles, methods, machinery, I and results of this institution constitute a definite and far-reaching gain for social justice. ,, WOULD MAINTAIN HIGH WAGES. The question of wages is next considered The phases taken up under tliis heading are tiie keeping up of the present wage rate and the establishment of a legal minimum wage. Tho organisation takes the tjosi tion that even though a large majority of workers are in receipt of more than livinir wages, they are entitled to them. On this point the bishops say:— "In a few industries, especially some directly and peculiarly connected with the carrying on of the war, wages have reached a plane upon which they cannot possibly continue for this grade of occupations. But the number of workers in this situation ia an extremely small proportion of the entire wage-earning population. The overwhelming majority should not be compelled or suffered to undergo any reduction in their rates of remuneration, for two reasons.fcirst, because tho average rate of pay has not increased faster than the cost of living • second, because a considerable majority of wage earners of the United States, both men and women, were not receiving livintr wages when prices began to rise in 1915 >ii ; *h ven , lf J 2 * Pnocs of goods should fall to the level on which t£ey were in within five years-rthe average present rates of wages would not exceed thV equivalent of a decent livelihood m the case* of the vast majority. The exceptional instances to the contrary are practically all among the skilled workers. Therefore, wages, of the whole should not be reduced even when Mgh°tveL S . "?*" hm *» "~

( i\IOKE THAN A LIVING WAGE. "Since pur industrial resources and in • etruinentakUes are sufficient to more than a hving wage for a very large proportion, of the workers whv . should we acquiesce in a theorf wW of Lfe? Such a policy is not only of a verv questionable morality, but unbound economically. The large demand which is created and maintained by g h2rh rates of wages an dhigh purchasing pS by the masses is the surest a continuous and general operS tf trial establishment, It is The most <*££&, ■ prices occurred, as a direct resSHf the faU support to all legitimate JJS, ZdTZ Labour to resist general wage reduction* 7 FAVOURS SOCIAL INSURANCE" H is taken into account, however that at the present time the worker is not nfa It is, however, on the subject of Wsentation and • tiqn to this, Labour ought "grkdiJ? tot t f - P f- y, honuses ' etc., welfare work* shop disciphne, relations with tradl^mW'' P jS- and the officiencv Sd productnroness of each establishment^ EVILS OF SOCIALISM ' ' " " in its main outlines. That is to say IrivTto ownership of .capital is not lS ? to k^ u » factor m the ordorin e o f hi."™ ff tie mdustnea themselves; in th c htt er >Wk oWn i a mbßt ? nt W P«* of the cWS stock and exercise a reasonable share m the management However slow thTatt-ni, "W'jf.ftw ends, they riffitot rroohed before we can have a thoroWv effijnont .system of production orriffi the danger of revolution. It is tn £> owned by not - by the State