The Waikato Argus [PUBLISHED DAILY.] THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 1901

Waikato Argus, Volume XI, Issue 1034, 29 August 1901, Page 2

The Waikato Argus [PUBLISHED DAILY.] THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 1901

The industrial war in the United States has reached a very acute stage, and rioting has ensued. We learn by cable that several steel plants have been shut down and that several are being fortified. It is stated that there are about 70,000 men out on strike. The cause is not that the men have any reasonable complaint to make as to hours of labour or the rates of pay. In order to resist the domineering of workers unions a powerful Trust has been formed and the principle laid down that they shall not be called upon to distinguish between the Unionists and non-Unionists, the mills to be open to ■ all workmen who shall return to work at the same rate of pay as was in vogue last year. The men, on the other hand, contend that as by means of the Trust prices will be kept at an abnormally high figure and the profits in consequence be enormous that they have a right to a share of tho results. The Trust on the other hand threatens to expel all the members of tho Metal Worker’s Association from the mills. These are estimated to be 75 per cent of the men in their employment. Mr Carnegie predicted that the formation of Trusts would tend to the benefit of workmen by the concentration of capital and of factories leading to cheaper output. We now learn, however, that the mills he controlled are being closed down in order to resist the demands of the The law against Trusts in America is stringent, but ineffective, and it is difficult to see how any possible legislation could prevent men from pooling their capital for their mutual benefit, In this country tho Trade Unionists are given a legal status, which enables them to put pressure upon the employers ot capital at any moment they please, and they have used the power with the utmost rigour, and if they continue this ourso it is uot dangerous to predict

that many of our industries will close | down and tbeir proprietors betake themselves to other counUies. There is only one means of ending industrial disputes, and that is by the establishment of co-operation in all its branches. Hitherto workmen have refused to take any risk. They cite employers and extract from them the utmost farthing which a business will stand without collapsing. Nobody disputes for one moment that the workman should enjoy to the utmost limit of fairness, the result of his labour. A system of co-operation which allowed a certain percentage on capital and payment for the skilled management and an equitable division of the surplus is the only possible means of solving the difficulty. This implies trust and confidence between the capitalists and the workmen. The question is : Will the workman consent to take a minimum wage and depend for its enlargement upon the results of the business as shown by carefully - audited books ? This would be a much less clumsy and more equitable method than that which prevails at the present time.