COOPERATION AND UNIONISM

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2988, 8 September 1891, Page 4

COOPERATION AND UNIONISM

TO Till-: KHITOK. Sik, — Some time ago I moved, as a member of the Waikalo Kiu'iiicih' Club, 11i:il Mime .itep hliouW be taken for the purpose of bringing the farmers of this portion of the colony into closer relations with the various labour organisations, who undoubtedly represent one of our best customers—the working man. The idea was regarded in many quarters as sound, though not easy of attainment; but. the delegate accredited from our Hamilton Branch to the labour bodies believed, no doubt in all sincerity, that any stops of the kind would avail little until society was reconstructed In other "wordn, until nu<;h social laws were enacted as,would render such a union of producers and consumers, as I suggested, useless, because unueoassnryi Your leading article of the 18th ult, however, makes it clear that the loaders of tho great cooperative societies in Great Britain are t iking much tho same view of tho uuiouist movement as myself. Inasmuch as while both co-operation and unionism are advancing steadily, thoy believe that nothing like tho progress is made that might fairly be anticipated if those t.wo great arms of industry were united ii'id working togothor, instead of being apart and frequently in antagonism. In this country tho agricultural branch stands, I consider, in much tho same position towards the labour bodies as do tie; co-operative societies iu the Old Country, and no legislation ever enacted would confer thesamo benefits upon working men as those to be obtained from a practical union between themselves and tlie toilers on tho land. I respectfully a.ibmit that such a combination, by lowering the cost of the necessaries of life to a point, more approximate to the o lit of production, would, and without injuring anyone, have the same effect as a distinct rise of wages. And, what is of very great importance, would not -weaken the chances of our colonial production as against the competition of foreigners, which the. raising of wages above a certain standard certainly does. This seems to be the weak point in the labour movement, and of the Legislation brought forward ,in their interests. The pressure brought to bear upon the managers of industries—for that is about all our capitalists really are—may have the oll'ect of artificially raising, for tho time being, the price of labour, and through it, its pioducts. But the result is disastrous directly we leave our shores and meet the competition of other nations. This has been clearly demonstrated in the important matters of coal production, a business which we know has been largely lost to the colouiea through our own actions. It would agaiu be exhibited, if our dairymen followed the same suicidal courue with regard to their produce. I have no intention iu penning these lines, of a"aiu bringing the matter before my fellow-agriculturists ; but perhaps I may bo allowed as one who always sympathised with the cause—though not always with their actions—of labour, to suggest, that instead of waiting for legislation, or the millcnium to improve their condition, the leaders should take advantage of ooportunities, which while bcneficial are clearly within their reach.—l am, etc., K. C. Shepherd.