The Daily News. TUESDAY JANUARY 24, 1922, INDUSTRIAL COUNCILS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 January 1922, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY JANUARY 24, 1922, INDUSTRIAL COUNCILS.

An agreement,' which it is claimed will mark the greatest advance yet made on a big scale towards industrial organisation in which the workers will have a definite voice in fixing the conditions of labor, has, according to a recent cablegram from London, been arrived at between the railway companies and their employees, after many months of negotiating. The arrangement provides for the creation by each railway company of five sectional councils, representing the five groups into which allrailway employees will be divided. These, councils are to be composed of equal numbers of representatives of the companies and the trade unions, and their functions Hvill consist of dealing with wages, hours of work, conditions of labor and discipline, besides the promotion of co-opera-tion in increasing efficiency and economy. and fostering suggestions for the operating of the railways. There are two outstanding features of special importance attaching to this proposal. In the

first place it is a practical plan which should result in benefits to both parties to the agreement, for it not only embodies the main principle of the Whitley scheme for introducing the system of selfgovernment into industrial concerns, and thereby acts as, a preventive of troubles and disputes, bnt it confers on the trade unions what should be their most important function, namely, the duty of securing efficiency and economy, as well as stimulating the workers to take a lively and intelligent interest in the business on which they are engaged, thus identifying their interests with those of their employers, while protecting the employees from exploitation. In the final report of the Whitley Committee it is stated: “Our recommendations have the effect of conferring upon the Joint Industrial Councils, and through them upon the, several industries, a large measure of selfgovernment.” The railway scheme should ensure industrial harmony and peace, if nothing else. At these round table conferences every matter concerning the operations in every industry can be dealt with and adjusted if the workers’ representatives are animated by the right spirit of cooperation. It will be noted, however, that a great step in advance over the mere preservation of amicable relations !as between employers and employed is incorporated in this agreement. A by no means minor provision is. that which aims at co-operation in increasing business, as well as promoting economy and efficiency, together with suggestions for improvements that will help in this desired aim. If . all parties join hands in a common effort to at- . tain the utmost possible success in any business the end in view will | be attained. As these councils are to consist of an equal number of | representatives of employers and I employed, the interests of the

workers as well as of the companies will be fully protected. and a direct stimulus given to individual hs well as collective efforts. The prevention of causes of dispute is jpore than half the battle in industrial affairs, and preserves that concord without which troubles must arise. If this system proves successful there will be no need for Arbitration Courts or Conciliation Councils. The workers will obtain a higher status, ,and be relieved from the thraldom of professional agitators, a boon that would add to their independence and enable them to take a pride in their work, which, under .present conditions, is not always visible. While their individual interests will be promoted, there is scope and encouragement for the mor? brainy men to rise to higher positions and to receive just recompense for all acceptable suggestions tending to the more efficient 01' more economical working of the railways. That is as it should be, for a thriving industry means better conditions for those .employed therein. The lead given by the railwaymen ami their employers in Britain is one that may with great advantage be followed by other industries. A good number of joint Industrial Councils have been established in the Motherland and are working satisfactorily. but the separate cooperative council that has been agreed upon by the rail way companies and their employees should prove more effective than the .general councils. The results of the operation of the scheme will ,be awaited with interest