MR HUGHES ONLY HALF-INFORMED.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14837, 1 December 1913, Page 7

MR HUGHES ONLY HALFINFORMED.

COMMENT ON THE NEW ZEALAND TROUBLE.

Mr W. M. Hughes, questioned if ho thought tho trouble over New Zealand vessels would spread, replied: — "I would not like to say, but thero is always a danger that industrial fire, once alight, will spread."

When shown a cablegram, reporting that the New Zealand Employers' Defence Committeo, in reply to the Federation of Labour's offer to accept t>ii Joshua Williams's arbitration, declined to recognise the Federation or any third party, stating that they would deal only with the Arbitration unions, Mr Hughes said: "If that is really the attitude of the employers; I am very sorry, indeed. A policy of sweet reasonableness is certainly tho most desirable, and, quite apart from the rights and wrongs of the original dispute, of which I know nothing, here is a bona fide effort made for a settlement by peaceful means by arbitration, with the assurance by responsible leaders that, whatever the decision, th© men will loyally abide thereby. In face of this, it is difficult to understand the attitude of the Employers' Defence Committee. However, I decline to believe that the employers havo rejected this proposal of the men."