INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 June 1917, Page 2

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMISNT. Oh Saturday afternoon at Elthain in the Town Hall a public meeting was held, with a view to considering the initiation of an effort to devise some scheme for improving the relations between capital and'labor, and so quieting the industrial unrest from which New Zealand, in common with other countries, is suffering. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., was in the chair, and Mr. G. If. Buckeridge and the Rev. G. W. Dent were the speakers. The chairman, in introducing the subject, explained that the idea of the promoters was to endeavor to harmonise the relations between the various classes of producers. He said it was certain there was grave industrial unrest in the Dominion, as there was in other countries, and that the speakers would endeavor to deal with soma of the problems facing the people and to give some information on the subject submitted for consideration and discussion. The present method so often employed—the strike—was, he said, a calamity for all, and it should be the effort of every citizen to assist in discovering another remedy. He said he believed that the hostility between labor and capital must be broken down by the principle of . co-partnership, making all connected with the business interested in its success and progress. Mr. Buckeridge said he would base his remarks on part of a great speech by Mr. Lloyd George, in which he said that there is now an opportunity for men to mould society as they desired, arid that if ever class insists on not returning to pre-war conditions, a new world might be formed. He believed that when a man like Lloyd George made such a statement, he made it with a full sense of the responsibility devolving on him. He considered that it did not need a Lloyd George to know that there was industrial unrest all over the world, as that was • shown by strikes and other methods used to endeavor to bring about. certain desired ends. It was the duty of the people l to find out the reason for this unrest, and to right the wrongs as far as it was in their power—a duty to the country and to their fellow men. They could not afford to look on the situation and do nothing to secure the changes necessary to bring about better conditions. All were vitally interested in the. question. If labor was united arid out to make changes, labor could do so, especially as the other side was riot so united. He instanced the power of organisation among the working classes in Russia, and said that if they had been better k led changes could have been brought about better, and a strong face have been opposed to the enemy. It would' generally be conceded that Britain would never go back to pre-war conditions, and care would have to be taken in effecting changes so jthat no revolution occurred. It was significant, he said, that a thousand men could meet in England under the Red Flag of Socialism, and showed the danger to which he referred. The changes following on the war must be recognised. It was for us to make the changes for the betterment of the country, to act so that these changes could come about in the right way, and to try to reconcile the warring methods of the people whose interests were wide apart. The question must not be left because it was difficult, but, if necessary, inflnito thought and infinite labor must be given to the solution. Farmers, he said, were well placed to take up the work, because they were both laborers and capitalists. He referred to the fact that right was on the side of England, and that still she, having disregarded the sound advice of that grand man, the late Lord Roberts, had had a severe test, and was only now meeting with much success. So, he said, the problem of industrial unrest must be met and solved on the right lines, in order that the men when they came back from the war would find the country undisturbed by revolution. They riiust do the job in the spirit which animated the Anzacs, who did not like the job, biit wore determined to see it through. It was possible for farmers to bring about a reconciliation between capital and labor. The people must get down to the basic principles on which all were agreed, make the base broad enough to suit all, arid then build on that base. In nature pertain fixed laws had to bo followed, or chaos resulted, nnd so it was- in society. Tt was the dutv Of legislators to assist the people in following these fixed laws, and so improve ruling conditions. Great statesmen, who knew the effects of certain proposed legislation, would lead the people aright. They did not go on the principle of finding out what the people wanted and giving it to them. He referred to the benefits of the Old Age 'Pensions Act, by which eyerv old nerson who fulfilled certain conditions hnd a right to the pension. Under the state of affairs as at pre-, sent existing in regard to the Act, however, there was something very much lacking. He believed that the laboring man had much to complain of, and his disabilities had led to the building up of unionism, under which output was restricted and other vexatious conditions were in existence. There was no incentive nowadays for a man to do his best, and this must bo put right. Until this was done he thought there could not be industrial peace. He referred to the good that could be done by the establishment of credit banks, and showed how successful thev had been in Germany, and how useful lessons in industrial organisation could be learnt from that country. By the system of credit banks approved men are financially helped. The surest way to secure industrial peace would be ' to give the laborer the chance to ilo, his'best, and to put the .best fluality Into his work. "It is our job," fiaid • the speaker in conclusion, "to effect improvements in a peaceable way, and to improve the conditions under which l.'ibor is working. If we do so, wc ?hall be helping in the, cause of na : tional good and prosperity, and assisting in malting New Zealand what she should be—the grandest country on God's earth." The Rev. G. W. Dent said it was principles, not details, which they should aim at. He hoped all present would take the lead and example offered and endeavor to heal the national differences. The war, ho said, must bring changes, nnd would, he felt sure, make men more reverent, more charitable, more kindly disposed one to another. He feared that many thought exactly as they did four years ago, and still had the same prejudices. These must be rooted out if a better world was to lie made. They must throw overboard party cries, give up old ' ways, and struggle so as to hand on a heritage of right to those who came after them.

Mr. D. L. A. Astbury said ho hoped no one would think him antagonistic. Ho criticised in the friendliest spirit what had been said- He added that, in his

opinion, Mr. Eiickeridge left oUt one very important item. There were actually three, interests to.foe considered—land, labor,- and. capital, the three primary influences iu production. He considered that no solution of the problems they were considering would <b& secured until the class of land-owners who did nothing to improve the land, bub hung on to it and drew tig'rente, ves dealt with. He referred to the -oosition in England, and said that Mr" Llovd George, *who was a fearless lighter had not been able to deal with tho question of landed interests. "But," ho added in conclusion, "Mr. Buekeridgi and the chairman are out to do. their 'best, and I am with them all the way. We must find a base broad enough on which to build up a new State, in which conditions will be better and relations between all classes more happy and quite equitable." Mr. Buckeridge, in a trie! reply, asid lie was out to discover a basis on which might he built a scheme to settle industrial differences and do away with the unrest existing at the present time. Ha hoped that as a result of the meeting something might ;bc done to find reasonable methodß. The chairman 'said he hoped that everyone would look into the questions raised and assist in so good a work. in reply to a question referring to Old Age Pensions, he said he would like to draw attention to a liberal Division in the Friendly Societies' Act, by which members, by increasing their contributions, would lie assisted by being largely subsidised by the State. Mr. Marx said the question was so big that he considered it would be wise to give people an opportunity to think it over. He therefore moved that the meeting stand adjourned for a week, when a proper motion would be put to the meeting. This was seconded by Mr. Astbury and carried.—Star.