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Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1919, Page 4

LABOR UNREASONABLE, The seamen's trouble in Sydney is over as tile rcsnlt of the Union Company's virtual capitulation. The demands oi' the men were in some respects as unreasonable as tiie Wellington firemen's demand for ,C2 a day to stoke tlie Maori. Whilst it is satisfactory to resume tlie intercolonial steamer service, it is questionable whether giving in to the wamen in this May is wise. Perhaps the time was inopportune to fight the seamen, as the number available at presem is limited, and the idling of a ship entails such a heavy loss, but it is obvious that unless more, reasonable counsels prevail amour; the seafaring men grave trouble is ahead. It will bo ccr.nriod that the sailors should be justly treated both in regard to working conditions and wages, but their behaviour of late indicates that they are out to bleed the shipping companies to the last penny and arc not at all concerned about the tcp-.ity of their demands It is this lack of moral values (hat is the most distmbing feature of the recent shipping and industrial troubles in Australia and New Zealand. Once this sense is lost it is a case of "God help the comnnniry." It must be confessed that the fault is net confined to the strikers or "go slowcrs." Tiie employing companies fia»o not always "played the game," especially during the war. Profiteering has beei rife in many directions, and the shipping companies have been as great sin.wrs as anyone else. There has practically b'en 310 limit to their exactions for freight. Knowing the criormoiiL profits they have mad'- and are making the sa ; !,-,rs have no compunction about putting t.'ic 'pistol to the heads of the eompaniej and demanding as big a share as tn.y can get of the plunder. They also see unreasonable profits being made in connection with practically every r.nicle they purehn.c, and for that reason they don't worry about "the unfairness of their ow*i demands. It is a.great pity they slnnM have been set such a bad example. So iar as New Zealand is concerned, the (Jo- • JCT»ent kwdoae KMUeaUjr. notlupg to

curb the rapacity of the profiteers, and it is little wonder tliat the i itblic are losing confidence in the met who are governing tlie country and that there is acute dissatisfaction and restlessness amongst various sections of tlie workers.