GOVERNMENT CHALLENGED

Chronicle (Levin), 23 February 1948, Page 5

GOVERNMENT CHALLENGED

CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 22. "The Labour move.ment, industria! and political, will agcee that the Labour Lovernment h,us treated the titades unions with niftre faitnuss aud t'riendiiness tlian any pre vious Lovernment, " said iMr. A. B, Grant, secretary pf the ( 'unterhury Trade-s and Labo.ur Coiinvil, today when replying to the statement niade by the Prnne Alinister, Al r. Frasef, tliat the Lovernment was unanimous, in its decision fo prosepqte • f he sppkesmen of the Cavpenters' Un«.»u responsible for the go-slow policy. Mt. Fruser reierred to a reso.luaen passeu bv Ihe C^nterbpry Trades Council utterly condemning the instruetions of uie minister oi q,vuour to iustauic pru eeedings against fhose officials responsible for the promotion and the operation of the go-slow policy. ' Th.ere is no yalid reason wlij- such fairfiess and friendliness should npt vo.ntinue," Mt. Lranf"said. " Hptyever. Ihe decision of the Lovernment to prqsecute the spokesmen of the Carpenters' Union, would seem to indicate "that some a" least , pf po.litiehl Laboiir ipokpsmen tyish' to . injure the organisa: tipns apd - fpnctioniiigs oi "iidustfiaj WofkerS. . ui Yyvp h Yf . .-Fra^er; to suggest tfiat ijidustrial' actlon is 'ln"' spited by men who work with ulteriur niotives. It is a far greatpr s,ocial crime for the Labpur Lovernment tp use the psychology of fear fo halt work ers in industrial action, tlian it is fo.r the carpenters to withliold the full use of their labour power to obtain. The social justice and social peace. which -Mr. rfase'r so fightly desires, can be obtained only on the surfacp and temporarily bj- smashing the elaims of thy ■ivorkers and submerging those elaims by using the force of state. Mr. Frasoi appiirently prefers using tlie force pf state to obtain so.ciaj peace. ' ' Mr. " Fraser also commends his Lovernment for its pledge to uphpld the law without fear or favour. His statement can be questioned, It is ou record that employers ' orgpnisatiops have held the state to ransaih on many occasions and instead of meeting their demands by the desefved direct refusal, the Lovernment has conceded demands. Et -is the weakness of the Lovernment iu this direction which compels the ivork ing class to take industrial action. If the Lovernment uses the force at its disposal, as it prefers, the Canterbury ; Trades Uouncil' and Federatiop pf Labour will undoubtedlv. carry their decisions into efl'ect, " Mr. (ira'nt conCluded.