The Daily News. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1921. COMMON-SENSE PRINCIPLES.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1921. COMMON-SENSE PRINCIPLES.

The attainment of industrial concord is not so much a question of arbitration ail'd conciliation as o£ returning to common-sense principles, which, if universally adopted, wopld obviate the need for intervention between the employers and workers. The evolution of unionism has produced advantages as well as strife. Unfortunately the latter has grown like a rank weed, stimulated by those who have made the process a source of livelihood. To-day the worker is largely a nonentity by becoming a. mere cog in union machinery, the operation of which is more arbitrary than the most pronounced system of autocracy that has ever been known. Undoubtedly unionism is a potent force, and, if wisely guided and directed, would be an invalua.ble aid to secure efficiency on the one side, while obtaining just treatment in the matter of pay, hours of work and proper conditions on the worker. There are three parties who- are entitled to be considered in industrial matters—the workers, the employers and the consumers, yet those who ultimately have to pay are often ignored by 4he other two, and can only depend on Parliamentary legislation to safeguard their interests—a leaning post that is nearer akin to a reed than to a pillar of strength. Speaking at the Wellington Rotary Club recently, Mr. T. M. Wilford put forward a strong appeal for “reason” to play a prominent part in the settlement of all disputes. Theoretically, arbitration and conciliation, he showed, are ideal methods, but the human equation as it stands to-day does not fit in with the 'process. The consequence’ is that neither the employers, the workers nor the public place any faith in the present system, possibly because it is found to be faulty in its construction,' It may be that all three of the intei-ested parties recognise that by eliminating the one main incentive to efficiency, namely, piecework, and fixing wages on a dead level minimum, a deadly blow was struck at the great stimulative principle that should dominate all human effort—the desire to excel and to obtain the due reward for brains as well as brawn. It may reasonably be claimed there should be grading in all industrial work, just as there is among teachers, civil servants and other avocations, the theory being that a man is paid what - he is worth. Practically such a system could only be carried out if all employers were absolutely just to their employees. Here, again, human nature holds up such a system because the demon of greed would' lead to exploitation and shoddiness. At the same time, even under present conditions, the law of supply and demand is at work, and it is the efficient and speedy workers that are rarely out of work, though the present falling-off of employment is affecting many that are in the front rank of their trades, the bulk of the unemployed, however. being classed as casuals. The question that has to be faced is mainly the course that

should be taken with a view to minimising—-for it is hopeless to expect elimination industrial friction until reason holds sway. In the first place the system of conciliation and arbitration should be so adjusted that it would gain the confidence of the workers, the employers and the public. Although there is not the same need for a. 'Conciliation Commissioner to be thoroughly versed in the details of the trade in which he endeavors to bring both parties to an agreement,’as in the case of tlm Arbitration Court assessors, yet it would manifestly be an advantage if he possessed that intimate knowledge which would help to smooth over difficulties. That he

should have had practical experi-j ence should be an essential quali-| fieation for the office. His greatest assets should be tact and commonsense, with pronounced ability to sift the arguments on each side, besides resourcefulness in mediatory suggestions. An ideally equipped Commissioner would probably save an appreciable proportion of disputes being passed on to the Arbitration Court, and thus justify the continuance of conciliation. It is in connection with the Arbitration Court, however, that reform is most needed. Mr. Wilford advocated that no permanent assessors should be appointed, but that when any dispute arose the Clerk of the Court should call upon the employers and the workers concerned to appoint an assessor for each side, presumably men thoroughly versed in the intricacies of the particular trade or industry concerned. He thus voiced an opinion which has" been frequently expressed of late, and should meet with general acceptance. If this course were followed there should be no lack of confidence in the Court. In times of booms it is inevitable that wages should rise, while at a period like the present it is essential that the producers should be protected from hardship or ruin by a readjustment of wages that will permit industry to continue. After all, it is common-sense, fairness and justice that should be the basis of all industrial life. The utmost the State can do is to provide the machinery for the smooth running of industry, but, like all machinery, adjustments have to be made, and the time has arrived when the Arbitration Court needs reconstituting.