RIGHTS OF WORKERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1916, Page 4

RIGHTS OF WORKERS.

PROBLEMS OF THE DAY By Cable.—Press Association—Copyright Received Feb. 10, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. i.. Sir Tlios. Mackenzie preluded at Mr R. li. Wiso's lecture at the School of Economics on the subject of industrial organisation. The lecturer said that although the workmen's right to coinbine for trade purposes wan recognised, anomalies existed among traders. Companies were permitted to do things which the law forbade the Union'* to do, yet the latter were empowered to take collective action, for example, to strike vithout incurring collective liability. This power, without authoritity, was likely to increase the danger to the State, and also was a source of weakness to the workers themselves. The most pressing industrial problem to-day was to turn Trade Unions from mere weapons of attack into a constructive instrument, with a view of r«> building our industrial society. Australia hud given the lead boldly by declaring that an industry that was 'unable to pay a living wage ought not to be permitted to continue. Tariff revision was urgently required, and aft«r the war nothing would unite the more.