THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1913. WAR ON UNIONISM.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 17 November 1913, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1913. WAR ON UNIONISM.

From the very beginning of the preI sent industrial upheaval, we have persistently urged in these columns that a deliberate attempt was being made by the Federation of Labour to usurp the control of the Labour forces of the Dominion, and to overthrow that system of arbitration that has been built up over a period of years, and to which Labour "owes a great deal of its privileges and protection. Immediately tho Labour Federation; which is composed of men of highly dangerous and revolutionary proclivities, rushed in to participate in a. di»spute for which there wa»s no justification, it declared war, not only upon the general public, but upon every branch of industry that claims protection tinder the industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. With a supreme indifference for the welfare of the masses, and with a reckless disregard for established institutions, it announced that war was being made by the great monopolies and by the elassesgenerally upon the stronghold of the masses. So utterly opposed to com-mon-sense and reason was such a declaration, that it was amazing that it should appeal to the sympathy of any thoughtful worker. From the very outset there has been no attempt on the part of capitalists and employers- to harass the honest worker. All that has been done has been to resist the arrogant assumption of supreme industrial power pretended by a body of revolntionary usurpors. The Defence Committee refused absolutely to renew an agreement with the watersiders unless it was made binding by an award under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act. The watersiders admitted that they had been guilty of an unwarrantable breach**"of agreement in stopping work during ordinary working hours. They attempted to excuse themselves on the plea that the shipping companies had also broken the agreement by .stopping work on the ! arrival of His Excellency the Governor. Admitting that this was really the case, tho Federation of

Labour surely does not arguo that two wrongs mako ono right. But what does tho plea of the watersiders amount to? Is it not an admission that an agreement made outside tho Conciliation and Arbitration Act is binding upon neither side? And does it not justify the Defence Committeo in refusing to sanction any agreement that is not supported by tho full strength of the' law? The Federation of Labour may argue that thero is no constitutional authority to compel a body of workers to register under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act. That argument is unimpeachable. But, there is also no law to compel an employer to engage men who are not registered under tho Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Here, then, is the whole crux of the situation. The Defence Committee maintains that, in all services in which the general public is vitally concerned, the danger of a strike and a dislocation of these services, should be reduced to a minimum. Hence tho determination to compel both employer and employed to register under the Act. This is the whole principle that is at stake in tho present crises, and it k a principle that every trade unionist who is registered under the Act should support. The contention that the farmers, shipping companies, and employers generally have combined to overthrow organised labour, is the puerile invention of a diseased imagination. Tn point of fact, the result of bringing the watersiders ulnder the Conciliation and Arbitration Act will be to strengthen the organisation of labour. The elimination of the Federation of Labour, which is dominated largely by foreigners and adventurers, will do more to unite the Labour forces than all the propaganda work that could possibly be undertaken. It is the realisation of this fact that has induced the United Labour Party to issue a manifesto repudiating the extreme action of the Federation of Labour and calling upon trade unionists to ignore the appeal of the Federation for a general strike. The United Labour Party stands for the amelioration of the condition of the workers by the wise exercise of the powers conferred under the electoral laws of the country. It recognises that reforms can only come by organised effort, and by an intelligent expression of opinion at the ballot-box. It knows by the teachings of history that- no move> ment that is not supported by public eentiment can be a permanent factor in the moulding' of the national destiny. Hence, it strives to educate the people and to create, a public sentiment that .will,-be., favourable to. such reforms as will make for national development. The Federation of Labour, on the other hand, is attempting to revolutionise society by the adoption of .methods of militancy and violence. The policy of Syndicalism and revolution has been condemned by every" responsible leader of the people throughout the world. It in & cruel, and wicked device to bring misery arid distress to the homes of the weak and helpless, with the object of inconveniencing the strong/ Instead of ameliorating the condition of the masses, it overwhelms them with suffering and disaster. Every-patriotic citizen and every honest and intelligent worker will therefore rlsist the militancy of the Labour Federation, and endeavour to secure a proper recognition of the constitutional rights of the people. The almost unanimous rejection of the impudent call of the Federation Bosses for a general strike, is a healthy indication that the great body of workers recognise the futility of adopting militant methods for the settling of industrial grievances. This rejection may' also be regarded as an expression of .want of confidence in the Federation of Labour and its revolutionary constitution, and an indication to Mills of Milwaukee and his exploiting comrades that New Zealand would be better"W"with their room than their" company*.