GO-SLOW, STRIKES AND CO-OPERATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 July 1921, Page 10

GO-SLOW, STRIKES AND CO-OPERATION.

SOME PLAIN TALK FROM MR. R. SEMPLE. •FACTS WORTH CONSIDERING. The Welfare League has, on several occasions, condemned the general practices of industrial “go-slow” and strikes, but nothing that it has ever published can surpasts the plain outspokenness of Mr. Robert Semple in his recent speech in the Empress Theatre, Wellington. In opening, Mr. Semple made it clear that, although he was speaking under the auspices of the New Zealand Labor Party, the views he might express were not necessarily the views of that- party. His subject, “Would industrial co-operation minimise the strike problem?” is a question we would, have no hesitation in answering in the affirmative, but we would give the term “co-operation” a much wider meaning it.han appears to satisfy Mr. Semple. The co-operative works at in which Mr. Semple and hie party are engaged, has had our support from the first, and we believe the workers on the job would <say that it is rather from unthinking extremists in the la-bor ranks that their chief opposition has been met with. The speaker said “he would not stand for any sacrifice of true Labor principles.” Our opinion is that in affirming the principle of “service for service,” and emphasising that “workers must have some sort of social conscience,” he was propounding two of the soundest labor principles it is possible to affirm. We appreciate the plainness of thia speech, and hope that some equally plain-spoken advocate will arise amongst the employers who will fearlessly proclaim that capitalists must have some sort of social conscience It is the men without conscience, both amongst capitalists and workers, who are playing the deuce with the world to-day. It would give us the greatest pleasure to find those who want an honest deal to come together, without consideration of class, and co-operate for the general welfare.

There has been far too much of the employers dwelling upon the shortcomings of employees and of the workers charging the employers with every unjust motive. Tt would effeet better results were each side to pay attention to their own faults and failings. Credit is due to Mr. Semple for his courage in putting very plain truths to the men of his own class. These words of his should have the earliest attention of every citizen. “I think that every practical working man who has had anything to do with strikes will not only desire fto minimise them, but will wipe them [ out altogether. No intelligent man who has been'through a strike wants to go through another. I have seen the wretchedness and the misery they cause. ITo me the strike is a nightmare, and I wwlt to see the day when the strike in New Zealand is as extinct as the Moa.” These are the words of a man who has been through many strikes, and who still affirms that for a good cause he would still uphold a strike. No stronger condemnation of striking could be uttered. Every word of it applies also to lockouts; yet we are faced with frequent instances of first stopping the work and then discussin'g differences, a blind, stupid, vicious reversion of all rational proceeding. Mr. Semple said “he knew that a plentiful supply of water in summer spelt the very life, the health, the happiness of the whole community.” Had he been dealing with economics generally he could have added that a plentiful supply of all commodities gives the masses a better chance to have their wants met than where supply is shortened. However, he affirmed that on their contract “every man would do his job as rapidly as possible. There would be no malingering, no go-slow, and no strike.” His statement that “there are some of the Labor pepole who say that we have surrendered the strike weapon” is but another evidence that there are people so blinded by passion that they would have the workers strike against themselves just to keep their hand in. We have met these individuals, who, if placed in heaven, would want to borrow coals from the other place to start a conflagration. It is useless trying to reason with the insane.

The affirmation of this Laborite’s opposition is very definite. He told his audience “he had just as much contempt for the working class loafer as he had for the capitalist loafer.” We commend this group of workers on the co-opera-tive job for their evident honesty of purpose. AU should agree with the appeal of Mr. Semple in closing, namely, to get down to practical methods of making New Zealand a better place for all concerned.”

Whether the idea of completely abolishing the capitalist, and even the contracting director of works, is in all instances possible is more than doubtful. On certain special works well selected bodies of workmen may be their own managers and do good work on co-opera-tive lines. It would be a mistake to confound these plans of co-operation with any movement such as the Russian Soviet system pnder which the capitalist was eliminated, only to find production greatly reduced, go-slow' in full operation, and strikes only prevented by armed force and violence.

It is in the spirit of human association, tolerance and recognition of partnership in service that the principle of general co-operation can be practically applied to the minimising of industrial conflicts, go-slow and other wrong industrial practices.

Mr. Semple’s recent utterance will help towards such desirable ends.

(Contributed by the N.Z. Welfare League.)