THE BASIC CAUSE OF THE PILOTS' STRIKE

The pilots' strike, with its far-reaching economic, social and political consequences, provides a classic example of the explosive effects of continuing monetary inflation in highly centralised societies, dependent on sophisticated technology, in which the traditional value system has been badly eroded. The old Aussie spirit of "mateship", a reflection of the Christian Law of Love, has been diminished, the result being that demands for higher payments, legitimate in themselves because of the deadly effect of inflation, are now often made without much consideration for others.

No one doubts the competency of Australian pilots, but like all unions, the Pilots' Federation has sought to ensure that maximum employment is available for all pilots. The general public's perception of pilots is that they are reasonably well paid with relatively short working time. The demand for a 30 percent increase in salaries was seen as "greedy' by the great majority of Australians bearing the brunt of the HawkeKeating policy of "restraint".

But it is the double standards of the Government, which has contributed to the pilots' strike. Anyone who reads the advertisements in the papers knows that massive increases in salaries are being offered to recruit senior executives. Doubling the salary of the Chief Executive Officer of Australian Airlines to $230,000 a year, while asking pilots to practise "restraint" could almost be construed as a deliberate incitement to the pilots to strike.
The question has been mooted that both Sir Peter Abeles, the Prime Minister's close friend, and Mr. Hawke himself, have a hidden agenda, both economic and political. Sir Peter Abeles is now in the position where he feels that before deregulation of the air industry takes place, he will have a much more cost efficient operation, employing far less pilots. In the meantime Bob Hawke is using the taxpayers' money to help subsidise Sir Peter and, of course, the Government's airline, thus enabling both airlines to continue with staff that otherwise would have to be stood down until the dispute is resolved.

There is a calculated political motive behind Bob Hawke's ranting approach to the issue. By putting his credibility on the line in the way he has, he is playing for big political stakes. If he can prevent a "greedy minority" from wrecking his wages accord strategy, he can go to the electors projecting himself as a Prime Minister of "principle", even prepared to support the type of stand Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen took in ending the Queensland power strike.

Irrespective of who "wins" from the present national crisis, the basic cause which creates continuing form of civil war, inflation, will remain. Continuing inflation has a segregating effect, with growing differences between different sections of society. Pilots can point to the substantial increases in salaries of senior executives, such as those in Telecom, judges and others, not overlooking the massive increase in the postal allowances of Members of the Federal House of Representatives from $9,000 a year to $30,000, but a lower middle income earner is likely to feel incensed when he sees pilots striking for salary increases of up to $30,000, more than his total yearly income.

While a rising price level aggravates the differences in incomes, a stable or falling price level minimises the differences, and prevents growing social friction. As we have demonstrated over many years, inflation is an insidious policy, which inevitably creates the type of crisis now affecting Australia.

The true cost of production has been falling with every improvement in technology, and a realistic financial policy would reflect that fact. A partial application of that policy was applied in all English speaking countries during and for a period after the Second World War. There was no inflation in Australia for five years, from 1943 until 1948.
The Consumer Price Discount System was abolished everywhere in favour of continuous inflation and social instability which would be exploited in the interests of further centralisation of power. As usual, the Federal Opposition has had to generally endorse what Prime Minister Hawke is doing, not having any constructive alternatives. Which is why they will probably find themselves still in Opposition after the next Federal Elections. (Recommended reading: A Programme For Reversing Inflation, by Eric D. Butler. $2.00 posted from all League bookshops.)

BRIEF COMMENTS

A spate of tragic car accidents, with most of the victims being young people, has produced the depressing negative "solution" of more controls, with serious suggestions that all motorists should be compelled to wear helmets. The basic problem is the attitude of people, particularly the young, towards their fellows. There is a case for attempting more adequate education of the young about driving. But there is an even stronger case for a return to a value system based upon self-discipline. There are no real answers to young people committing suicide on the roads, or by abusing themselves with drugs, until the educating of the young includes the teaching of a value system which stresses personal responsibility and respect for others. There is an old saying that "Manners maketh the man". Regretfully, manners are today regarded as "old hat". The tragic results of this belief can be seen everywhere.

The Sunday Herald of September 17th quotes a Japanese-born Australian academic, Professor Yoshio Sugimoto, as warning that plans to establish an Australian-Japanese technological city in Australia could prove to be a "Trojan horse" for Japanese colonisation. Professor Sugimoto, who has lived in Australia since 1975, bases his warning on the introduction of a range of undesirable features of Japanese life. The Professor, who describes himself as "a refugee from the Japanese corporate culture", is Dean of Social Sciences at LaTrobe University. It is significant that those Asians who have lived in Australia for a lengthy period, are the strongest opponents of any mass Asian immigration. Professor Sugimoto says that Westerners are confused about Japanese culture. He also stresses that Japanese are widely disliked throughout Asia. Are you listening Senator Ray? Clearly the Japanese generally have a different value system to that of Australians. The brutal treatment of prisoners of war was simply a reflection of a value system, which has little respect for human life.

NO, WE DO NOT NEED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS!