The Daily News. TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 1920. NEED FOR INDUSTRIAL CONCORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 June 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 1920. NEED FOR INDUSTRIAL CONCORD.

The remarks made by Mr. Beauchamp, at the meeting of the Bank of New Zealand on Friday, on the industrial question, contain much material for serious reflection. He approaches the subject from a social and economic point of view, and with commendable impartiality, his chief concern being the remedying of antagonism between Labor and Capital in order to bring about increased production and industrial peace. He blames neither side, but puts forward unanswerable arguments in favor of more sanity on the part of Labor—the cessation of being so blindly immersed in agitation—and for more genuine evidence of willing co-operation and concession on the part of .Capital. Like all others—experts and laymen—who have examined this problem, Mr. Beauchamp does not ignore its stupendous difficulties, which, he insists, must be overcome if national disaster is to be averted. Upon our national industry our whole national life depends, so that an intelligent and sincere cooperation between the two' great agents of production—Labor and Capital—is absolutely essential to an ameliorated condition of the people, and yet the world is confronted with an unparalleled economic crisis because Labor is fighting Capital with a bitterness and intensity that seems growing ever more blindly acute, with the result that strikes are proclaimed on the shallowest pretences; limitation of output follows as the result of shorter hours and deliberate shirking, prices of the necessaries of life soar upwards, accompanied by profiteering and other evils that are a sorry commentary on our civilisation- Much of the present bitterness between the two great agencies, said Mr. Beauchamp, must be due to misunderstanding, or simply blind antagonism—causes that ought to be dispelled. Capital, he proceeds, has never sufficiently brought to its consideration the claims and aspirations of Labor, and the lamp of human sympathy. The widening of the gulf between these two agents of production h « disaster of great magnitude that

seriously threatens our social and economic future. How can it be bridged? That is the problem which must be solved. .If, said Mr. Beanchamp, the day of radical changes in the structure of our industrial system is inevitable, the sooner it is recognised the better, and the utmost human effort must be made to find a just and permanent modus however, that, strive as we may to evolve a common basis of reciprocal action between employers and employed, the goal will not be reached until both sides recognise that their interests are mutual; that both have their rights, duties and rfesponsibilities as an integral part of national life; that instead of a struggle for supremacy, there shall be unity of purpose, a common understanding that both are engaged on the same work and will participate in the fruits of their labor on an equitable basis. Whether an industrial conference would succeed in disclosing the' root causes and basic differences between employers and employed is an open question, but it would be at least a step in the right'direction. The great obstacle to industrial reconciliation and peace is to be found in the extreme views and aims of some of the®Labor leaders, whose occupation would vanish on the cessation of strife. That is why so much stress is laid on the need for more sanity on the part of Labor as a whole, and more willing co-operation and concession on the part of Capital. The social and economic future of the Domiti: ion—and of the world—is in serious jeopardy until this problem is solved satisfactorily. Mr. Beauchamp voiced the general opinion when he said: "It is surely deplorable that industrial antagonisms should so paralyse the hands of industry, and stifle the creation of wealth, that many have to face want where plenty should be their lot, and comfort their heritage." No reasonable sacrifice is too great to bring about cordial relations between the two forces, whose interests would be best served by complete harmony. Unless ail industrial crisis is averted by the exercise of true common sense—the sense of the common weal— New Zealand may have to face, in the not distant future, a calamity that will put back the clock of progress and • prosperity, and bring in its human train misery and much unnecessary suffering. For all disputes a means of settlement has to be evolved- Surely, then, it should be possible to arrive at a basis of co-operation between Capital and Labor. "Where there's a will, there's a way. "We believe the will exists, and the way can be outlined if the parties come together in the proper spirit.