THE LABOR MOVEMENT.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 491, 9 August 1890, Page 2

THE LABOR MOVEMENT.

THE FERMENT THROUGHOUT THE COLONY. [special to the standard.] Napier, last night. The lumpers emajjed to unload coal from Dolbel and Co.’s Kio refused to go to work yesterday, unless paid Is 6d per hour instead of Is 3d as hitherto, and also other concessions granted to which they consider themselves entitled under the new rules of the Federated Wharf Laborers’ Union. After some hours, during which communications passed with, the executive at Dunedin, Mr Dolbel conceded the Is 6d per hour, but the other concessions were waived by the men, as the executive held that the rules referred to do not refer to vessels unloaded by hand or horsepower. Auckland, last night. The Harbormasters’ and Engineers’ Union have decided that five men discharged by the Ferry Company were sent away because they lhad joined the Society, and asked tho Trade and Labor Council to take the case up. Messrs Grey and Salmon, delegates from the Auckland Butchers’ Union, have been in Taranaki during the last two days, and have succeeded in getting both men and masters to join the Union. The Trade and Labor Council is considering the Whitcomb and Tomb trouble to night. The newly formed Carpenters* Union now numbers 50 members. This it independent of those who are associated with the amalgamated Carpenters’ and Joiners’ Society. Wellington, last night. At a meeting of large employers of labor last night, to discuss the labor difficulty, it was resolved that in the event of strikes extending to Wellington, to close the establishments and manufactories, and thus create a lockout. At a meeting of Unionists the following resolutions were carried :—That this meeting recognises the present Rtrußgle aw an evidence of an apparent combination of capital to crush the labor organizations of the colony and urges that no compromise be accepted which fails to acknowledge the equal rights of the two interests. That the meeting erpresses indignation at the unworthy tactics adopted by Me-isrs Whitcomb and Tombs iu dealing with the labor interest, and pledges itself to resist sweating in whatever form ic may be practised, whether by the firm in question or by others.

A REVIEW OF THE POSITION. One of the fairest articles we have read concerning the great Labor question is that from the pen of the able editor of the Catholic Times. Appended is the main portion of the article : — To-day, in England, in Europe, and iu America, Capital and Labor, arrayed in hostile camps, wait the signal for renewed and bitter war—war to the death, it may ba. Time alone can reveal the issue, for capita), though sorely threatened, has roots deep down and very strong. Whatever may be tha tribulations of capital in the Old Country and in America, wo must remember this—capital, by its selfishness and tyranny has largely brought its woes upon itself. Selfishness and tyranny have never, in the history of the world, escaped retribution and never wilt Nemesis may long tarry on the road but surely comes at last. Let us not forget that I Thus far as regards Capital and Labor in the old countries. It was not to be expected that New Zealand would escape the shocks ot the Industrial Earthquake now agitating the West. As a people we are keenly alive to all that proceeds elsewhere; nor are we backward in joining “new movements” whatever they arise ; perhaps, indeed, we area trifle fond ot all novelty for novelty’s sake. L|te here is not without monotony, labor here, as elsewhere, has some grudges against capital ; here, as wherever human natufo prevails, are employers ready to take as much and give ss little as may be. And so New Zealand has ranged its comparatively puny battalions on the side of labor, and her workingmen—and some who are not precisely workers—stand ready and organised, perhaps eager—it may be a trifle too eager—for the fray. And who can blame them, at least for organising ? It may with truth be asserted that the conditions of life here are utterly dissimilar to those which obtain in Europe and America; that poverty as it is understood in older countries does not exist here; that capital does not in New Zealand grind or attempt to grind labor beneath its heel; and that capital in the sense understood in the West is unknown here, the mass of employers being men of small means, many of whom at the end of the year are in a far worse pecuniary position than thoae whom they employ. Granting, however, the truth of any ’and all of these assertions, they are no reasons against the combinations of labor ; no arguments against Trade Unions. Capital even here, if unchecked, might become tyrannical. At any rate ’th a good maxim—“lf you want peace, be prepared for war.” But though the arguments just recapitulated are no arguments against labor organisations, they are still most cogent reasons why the Trade Unionists of this country should speak with greatest circumspection ana should act wi'h extremest caution and moderation. Each and all are strongest arguments against the slightest abuse of the power that Trade Unionism possesses in thie country. In the first place, speaking generally labor in New Zealand, unlike labor in Europe, hasfsw if any past wrongs to avenge —even were vengeance at any time, or in any place, other than criminal and futile. In the next place, utility must be considered. Here is a young country, its prosperity and progress almost totally dependent upon internal peace, upon the minimum of friction between those employed and employing. Notwithstanding the high falutin of one or two mere demagogues, society has not yet learned to exist without capital, and until we have learned to do without it; until we are quite prepared to carry Socialistic theories into practice, it will not serve the turn of labor to frighten capital out of the colony—capital, that with all its “ grinding power ” is still a timorous thing, and, despite its “inherent vileness” is still an indispensable thing. No doubt it may be a kind of aid to. the enthusiasm of some to speak and think of the employers of New Zealand as “ bloated ” and “grasping capitalists,” but what are the stern facts? Is it not true that by far the larger proportion of them are straggling to found industries ? Is it not equally true that many of those employers find it nigh impor eible to make ends meet? It then the demands of labor are or should become excessive, and therefore unjust, is it not certain that the majority of smaller employers must succumb, and their industrial either cease or become absorbed by the large capitalists? If those industries cease, so much in lost to labor. It they are absorbed by tha ’capitalists, thsrflwill Trade Unions have helped to build up those precise monopolies which iu all countries, and in all times, have proved the most bitter and also the most powerful foes of labor. New Zealand at this present moment witnesses Labor apparently triumphal and Capital apparently timid. Employers have been surprised, perhaps a little scared, by the somewhat sudden demands of the new Industrial development; one or two newspapers, ever rathii prone to lick the boots of power or what they deem to be power, are already on their knees to labor organizations. Is this apparent timidity on the one side, and apparent triumph on the oth*r, real ? Will they last ? In other words has labor achieved any tangible and lasting victory ? To us the answer seems simple and we give it, no matter who is pleasad or ths reverse: just so long as labor acts with perfect moder* • ation and fairness, with an absence of tyranny and selfishness, just so long will capital shrink from assailing its position, and just so long and no longer will it attract the sympathy of the country. Tho moment the counsels prevail of those who declare, •' Wj have all the power ; lot us uso it,” then most assuredly will Nemesis be at hand; capital, with its deep roots and strong hold; capital great and small, will join forces for the fight, no matter which side claims the victory, New Zsaland k will emerge a ruined country. This may matter little to those who are only passengers and sojourners, but to those who have oome here with the idea of founding an abiding place and in time a Nation; to those who hope to nee their children inherit the land, it would mean the waste of all they have accomplished, and in many cases the begin* ning again of life when life Is almost at Its wanei