The Daily News. THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1919. PEACE IN THE LABOR WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, 16 May 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1919. PEACE IN THE LABOR WORLD

In view of the widespread nature of the upheavals amongst the workers of the world it might almost seem to the students of political and social economy that it is paradoxical to assert that industrial democracy is attracted by the vision of a world peace. None the less the vision is not ephemeral; it is based on a real sense of brotherhood which is at present in its developmental stage, and according to whether the expansion is sudden or the outcome of mature and wise judgment, so will the vision fade or materialise. It is obvious that no satisfactory industrial peace can be expected unless it is based on world-wide foundations, and it is the recognition of this fact that fully justified the inclusion in the Peace Treaty of some general provisions relating to labor, in the form of an international labor convention, together with an affirmation by the parties to the treaty of the methods and principles for regulating labor conditions which all industrial communities should endeavor to apply as far as their special circumstances permit. In these days of stress it is more than ever essential that education and labor should go hand in hand in order to secure the, full fruits of industrial efforts, and to the nations who realise this fact and evolve the most perfect and practical co-operation between these two potent forces, there will accrue the greatest profit and the most enduring labor peace. It must be remembered that climatic and other 'conditions vary in many of the countries represented at the Peace Conference, but the general principles relating to the right of labor to its fair share of its creations admit of no variation, all that is needed to protect the workers being a reasonable protection i against the dumping of the product of cheap labor until such time as tbe rates of pay are equalised. Take, for instance, Japan. Speaking recently in the of Commons Mr. Bonar Law said the Government's efforts to restore the trade of the country would be based on the necessity for obtaining increased production, but, he added, how was it possible to maintain the present scale of wages in the country if cotton goods were eoming from Japan and were on sale in Britain at lower prices than British manufacturers paid for the cotton alone» That is one of the reasons why the British Government had decided on Imperial preference. It must not be expected that the International Labor Convention as (outlined in the Peace terms will prove a panacea for all industrial j ills, but it is a move in th« right > direction. Its success wiil dejje&4

upon whether the rank and file of the workers will be loyal to theiy leaders, also on the spirit which will animate the Convention and its executive in approaching and deciding the many issues that will ccme within its scope. It may be that some difference < f opinion will arise as to the personnel of the Conference, which is to consist | of two members appointed by each State, together with a representa tive of the employers and a representative of tha workers in each State, the Conference having power to adopt, by a two-thirds majority, recommendations or draft conventions on labor matters. By this arrangements the interests of the employers and employed should be safeguarded, as the independent members will hold-the balance of power, provision being made for taking economic measures against any State that fails to carry out by legislation the decisions of the Conference. The agenda for the first meeting, which is to be held at "Washington this year, includes the principle of the e'ght hours day, the question of unemployment, and the employment of women and children, especially in dangerous trades. It is worthy of note that among the matters affirmed by the signatories to the Convention are that Labor shall not be regarded merely as a commodity or article of commerce; the right of association for all lawful purposes—for employers as well as the employed; the payment to workers of a wage implying a reasonable standard of life as understood in their ume and country; the adoption of a weekly rest of at least twenty-four hours, including Sunday where practicable; the abolition of child labor and the limitation of the labor of the young so as to permit the contin uance of their education and proper physical development; the principle of equal pay for men and women for equal work, also provision for State inspection for the protection of employees, in which women are to take "part. A' notable omission from the list is the provision of sanitary dwellings, but this will probably receive due attention at the hands of the Convention. Other questions that will demand attention are unification of nationalisation and collective production, hot*, of which have an important bearing on the future of industrial peace. There is no doubt that the interest of the public has been aroused over labo? matters, and though the extremes have in large measure alienated sympathy, there exists.a general desire to help forward the best interests of the workers. It has been proved beyond question that tht= present methods adopted in many industries are extremely wasteful, and that strikes inflict serious hardships on the community as well as on the workers, so that a well-directed effort to stimulate production and secure industrial peace throughout the world should be hailed with satisfaction. A full measure of reform wiil take time, but it will be far better to make haste slowly than to be hasty and have to be constantly tinkering The prosperity of the nations depends on labor, and the contentment of the workers is the best safeguard that can be prn yided against outbreaks of militarism, hence a satisfactory solution of the labor problem is a potent factor for peace, and the higher the intelligence of the workers the greater will be the power of the nation and the more beneficial it» influence on international affairs.