LABOUR UNREST.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 22 November 1916, Page 4

LABOUR UNREST.

(Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, Nov 20. People who arc seeing in the protests of the Social Democrats and the threats of the Seamen’s and Drivers’ I nions portends of a great industrial upheaval in the near future probably are alarming themselves quite unnecessarily. It is plain to everyone that the large increase in the cost of living has added enormously to the difficulties of the married town worker, earning anything from £2 to £3, since the beginning of the war. Just how he manages to make ends meet at all is au absolute mystery to folk more fortunately situated. But though this man may grumble and protest—as he has good reason and a perfect right to .do —he is not the sort of person to enter upon a struggle with his employer till he has exhausted every possible means of obtaining redress. The Auckland drivers have gone the length of giving notice of their intention to strike a week hence, and if the employers refuse to listen to their representations they doubtless will carry their threat into execution; but these workers are placed in an anomalous position by the existence of an award which takes no account of the increase in the cost of living, and failing an amicable agreement they have no other means of extricating themselves from what they regard as an intolerable position. Their ease, however, need not be taken as symptomatic. It is rather an incident in tlio readjustment of conditions.