The Daily News. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1922. FREE LABOR.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1922, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1922. FREE LABOR.

When the seamen’s strike first ■commenced it seemed' as if it might be the means of not only causing serious dislocation of floating transport, but was likely to inflict a ruinous loss cn the growers of perishable comm .’dities, as well as detrimentally affecting numerous commercial and industrial activities. The situation was undoubtedly serious, and the indications were that a solution of the impasse was not in sight. And yet nothing could he more simple than, the manner in which the trouble was met and overcome, merely a relaxation certain restrictions, the effec: of which was to open the way, at all events for the time being, for free labor. No sooner was this expedient acted upon than it became apparent that the unemployed were only too ready to seize on the opportunity to take up the duties of the seamen and firemen and man the ships, and it was found there were among, the volunteers a number of seamen who were not in sympathy with the unjustifiable action of the strikers —for they can be called nothing else. Of the two main principles involved in this affair, the first is the upholding of the edicts of the Arbitration Court. In this con nection all unbiassed people will subscribe to the views expressed by the Leader of the Opposition at Feilding on Wednesday night. “No country,” said Mr. Wilford, “can progress nor can civilisation stand unless unhesitating submission is given to the judgments of the Courts. . . No section of

the public should be allowed to hold the whole community to ransom because they object, or do not agree with any Court decision.” In a free country like New Zealand men are not forced to continue in their employment, and are entitled to quit on giving the prescribed notice. That is what the seamen did, and having done so must not feel aggrieved that others have taken their place. What they intended was to hold up the shipping facilities and penalise the public merely because the Arbitration Court had decided that the time had arrived for the lowering of the weekly wages to the extent of three shillings, and it is quite probable they counted on a measure of support outside their organisation, particularly the watersiders, and probably all the unions embraced in the Alliance of Labor, but it seems as if the possibility of the formation of new unions not under the control of the Alliance is sufficiently in evidence to act as a deterrent to any further lashness which might, and probably would, precipitate a split in unionism that would shake the very foundations of the structure, "he studied and persistent reticence of leading Union officials indicates the existence of a crisis which must be averted, hence the policy of inaction. With regard to the second principle involved in this trouble, namely, the reliance on free labor, there is a vitally important moral to be drawn from the removal of the restrictions which have enabled unions to hold the public to ransom. That moral is the only logical conclusion to be drawn from the conduct of unionists, and it expressly points to the imperative need for the elimination of preference to unionists. So long as that proviso remains in force in any country it closes the door to freedom by compelling men to join a union and do as they are ordered by the union officials. The system has been given a fair trial and been found wanting, as well as accumulating abuses until it has undermined the patience of the com munity. The mere fact that it. should have become necessary to suspend union, restrictions and Board of Trade regulations connected therewith, proves that an overhaul of present, conditions ought to be taken in hand so as to put an end to union tyranny and give every man willing to work a chance to make a living without having to he penalised in the shape of a compulsory levy for the support of officials, who often have a good time nt the expense of the workers. The matter is

one which should be dealt with by Parliament at the earliest opportunity, the aim being to evolve a tribunal that will assure the workers, the employers and the public a square deal all round without the intervention of paid agitators. Such a course would open wide the portals of industrial peace and make for contentment and prosperity.