The Daily News. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1920. UNIONISTS AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 December 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1920. UNIONISTS AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

It is difficult to understand the; attitude of the trades unions in Britain in connection with the employment oi' ex-service men. There is naturally a disinclination to impute to these unionists that they 'are actuated entirely by selfish motives, and that they would sooner see men who had loyally and patriotically served their country being forced to endure idleness and grave hardships rather than hold out a helping hand and enable them to earn a living. There is no question as to the aeuteness of the position, nor as to the avenues that could be opened so as to give the ex-service men an opportunity to support themselves and their dependents instead of having to keep the wolf from the door by means of charitable doles. According to the Minister for Labor (Dr. Macuamara), the Government is desirous of finding employment for 50,000 ex-service men who are now idle, but this, cannot be done, without the co-operation of the trades unions, vyhose rules would have to be suspended for the purpose. Protracted negotiations have been carried on between the Minister and the building trade unions with the object not only of obtaining work for the unemployed, but also expediting the building of houses so urgently needed, but so far without success. Apparently 1 lit? unions have adopted the attitude that it is the business" - of the Government 1o frame a comprehensive scheme for dealing with the unemployed problem without in any way calling upon the unions for assistance or interfering with union rules. It would | seem that the Labor unions view the increasing unemployment with a certain amount of fear that their members may be affected adversely if room is to be made for men outside the unions to be provided with work. This view is empaas*

ised by the fact that a Labor deputation recently waited on the Minister in reference to the prevailing distress, and Dr. Maciiamara, possibly in view of the fact j that ihe workers refuse to discuss with them the GovemitfriiL's proposals for the employment of exsoldiers iu the building trade, said he could extend no hope of relief; measures, as the policy of the Government was not to revive the system of donations for civilians, but to co-operate with the local authorities in providing wor,k for which grants had been made. This attitude should commend itself to all economists, especially as the Government has agreed to allow the trades unions a grant for every ex-service man taken under their wing, with a guarantee against unemployment, and a liberal allowance for time lost through bad weather. It might well be considered that these proposals were such as could be readily accepted, but the unions appear to consider that the Government should continue the unemployment dole and not trespass on the union reserves. Tu brief, the policy of the unions may well be expressed in two words: "Hands off!" The situation is that the Government is determined to find work for the exservice men—whose claims cannot possibly be ignored—and the unions appear to be bent on thwarting the effort. Manifestly such a state of affairs cannot be allowed to continue, or it would mean that unionists are to eontrol the country's affairs, which is unthinkable. ' That the British Government will find a solution of the problem, even if it. entails stern measures, may be taken for granted. But what can be said of the policy of the unions? Nothing but strong condemnation, for if there was ever an urgent and unanswerable reason for sympathetic action, it is embodied in the duty of every section of the community to extend a helping hand to ex-ser-viee men and. place them in the way of earning their living. The very word charity is repellent when connected with these menj who make great sacrifices for their country. Union selfishness and tyranny are a blot on the age in which we live. In principle, unionism is excellent, but in practice it has become a menace to national progress, and a hotbed for fostering the growth of views that make for national chaos and disaster. It is worthy of note that the scandals in the New York building trade are such that a Senate Committee will make investigations into ihe situation, and it may become necessary for all other countries to take similar action.