THE PUTARURU PRESS. THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1928. GETTING TOGETHER.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 223, 9 February 1928, Page 4

THE PUTARURU PRESS.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1928. GETTING TOGETHER.

ONE of the most hopeful present day signs is the realisation on the part of Labour and Capital that for the utmost good to accrue to each a closer relationship must be maintained. Conferences' are now being arranged to this end both in England and New Zealand, and prominent men in the Labour ranks, such as Messrs. J. H. Thomas, Philip Snowden and M. M. J. Savage, have been outspoken in their remarks upon the absolute necessity for industrial peace. Too long has Capital and Labour warred with the other. Both are interdependent, and the folly of strikes, which inflict grevious losses on both, seems at last to be receiving more general recognition. It is not that this point of view I has not been clearly seen before. It has, by men of broad vision on both sides, but their views have not generally prevailed, and extremists in both camps have at times precipitated strikes or lock-outs which have been almost criminal in their disregard for the welfare of the country concerned as a whole. The ifirst steps towards the conference between employers and wageearners in New Zealand, which Parliament at the end of last session agreed should be summoned, are now being taken. The labour those engaged in seeking a mutual understanding between Capital and Labour will be a delicate undertaking, and if a successful out-

come is to be expected, both sides must approach the discussions with one sole aim—the estab- > lishment of a prosperous industrial ‘ future on a sound be prepared to make sacrifices for the general good. The task is no light one, . but the difficulties are by no means i as serious as some critics would have : us believe. The New Zealand con- j ference has this great advantage: It has the experience of older countries as a basis to work on. If a successful issue is to be achieved there must be no clinging to old tenets. Both sides must be ready to jettison theories which have long outworn their usefulriess, or have been disproved. Capital must realise it is to its advantage to give the fullest possible return to Labour, and in return Labour must realise that all men are not equal, and that payment must be based on results. With this obvious theory accepted, ways and means to carry the same out should be easily outlined. The advantages of high wages and copartnership are made manifest wherever tried, for then wealth is distributed amongst channels which create a sound and stable purchasing power without which industries can at best only secure a precarious market. But high wages cannot be paid if the best workers are to be reduced to the level of less gifted. There must be less rigid conditions, with mare general trust of each other shown by both sides. Capital must supply the incentive by way of a more generous share in the profits, and the workers must be allowed t 6 respond by a removal of the restrictions on output. These two factors seem to be the only basis upon which any stable agreement can be based. Given free and proper scope by both sides, such an agreement should ultimately result in strikes and lockouts being regarded as they undoubtedly should be, as criminal offences against Society. HARD TIMES. DESPITE much talk of “ turning the corner ” towards prosperity, hard times are still with us. No amount j of wailing will improve the position, however, and the fact has to be faced that better times are not yet here. I Perhaps the pinch is being felt most by the smaller rural centres, I more especially those which are also supported by the sawmilling industry which has also been passing through a parlous period. Such towns must, like private businesses, face the question from a business standpoint. Just as a progressive draper or other 1 retailer shapes his. policy to cater in the best manner'for the people in his district, so must those responsible for the government, of the smaller rural centres regard the situation. Though most retailers see the matter from this point of view, when it comes to the community viewpoint many fail to take a broad 'view of the question.

In times of stress it is the fittest that survive, and many small centres have laid the foundations of a progressive town by realising this point and acting accordingly. A small

town if it is to be solidly prosperous must ever have as its policy the object of catering for the farming community in its immediate vicinity. Every inducement possible for them to regard the town as their centre must be put into effect. It is not a time for “ putting up the shutters ” and hoping for the best, but for hard thinking with a view to discovering the best means for meeting the situation. With this viewpoint ever to the fore the rural centre which acts upon it must of necessity, just like any private business, be the first to recover from the depression. Hard times demand a bold and progressive policy, which if carried out in an economical manner, is the surest means of building up a sound and stable foundation for the future.