The Daily News. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1921. LABOR DEMANDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 February 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1921. LABOR DEMANDS.

The most cursory survey of the position with regard to labor matters ib sufficient to reveal a state of affairs that is rapidly approaching a elimax. In the Mother Country the' unemployed problem has reached an acute stage, resulting in the demand for work or maintenance, and yet the refusal of the unions connected with the building trade to absorb fifty thousand ex-service men is costing the country fifty thousand sterling a week. At the same time, when- it, is so urgent that industries should be re-established and fostered in order to Wring about permanent prosperity, Labor bars the way by demands that result in closing down or restricting output. The British mining industry is also approaching a dangerous situation, as the miners oppose the owners’ proposal that wages shall depend largely on profits, and they demand a new standard which shall include the greater part of the present earnings. Moreover, these miners ha # ve further intimated they will not accept any reduction, the eonsequence being that export trade is practically stagnant, and unprofitable collieries are being closed. These two phases of the labor problem indicate fairly clearly the main features of the crisis. On the one hand widespread unemployment, and on the other hand the refusal to work except on such terms as cannot be granted. In

the Dominion, fortunately, the unemployment problem has not to be faced as yet, but the new proposals framed by the Miners’ federation to take the place of the agreement which will expire at the end of the present month are such as the employers are not likely to entertain, nor the Court to sanction. For six hours’ work on five days a week, a minimum wage of six pounds is claimed (without any stipulation as to minimum output) ; the contract system to be abolished (although provision is made for twenty-five shillings per shift to be paid to men hewing coal on .contract and twenty-seven shillings and sixpence for men working in stone) ; double rates for all overtime, and treble rates for Sunday and holiday work. There are also numerous other provisions involving large, increases in wages and equipment that may be expected to practically double the present retail price of coal. These new demands may be devised with the object of restricting output at a time when greater production is urgently needed, and making overtime and contracting impossible, while giving the men liberty to do as little work as they please, and be paid therefor between six and seven pounds a week comprising only thirty hours from bank to bank, but the policy adopted certainly plays into the hands of the employers. Under such circumstances it is easy to understand that, unlike the British miners, there is no controversy over payment according to profits, but a straight-out claim for an all-round minimum wage untramelled with any conditions as to output. The situation is one of considerable gravity, and may cause an infinity of trouble unless handled successfully. The same remarks apply to the watersiders’ refusal to work overtime, which has resulted in the employers notifying the men that unless they are prepared to work overtime no further gangs will be employed on ships shortly to arrive or on those not already manned. The matter canuot be allowed to remain in this unsatisfactory condition. The loading and unloading of ships as speedily as possible is of the utmost importance, and is a great factor in the welfare of the Dominion. Surely there must be a large body of sane workers who could influence the general policy of their respective organisations in such a way as toprevent the innocent community being heavily penalised. The outlook has an ominous look, but there is no phase of the labor question that cannot be dealt with on fair and reasonable lines if the, proper spirit of conciliation is “ shown on both sides. Now is the time for sane counsels to prevail, and to play the game, otherwise disaster will result. The fea re of the workers’ attitude that seems incomprehensible is their failure to recognise that one effect of their ill-considered action must iu evitably be that they will lose ground themselves and strengthen the position of the employers.