Mr. Fraser Says Resolutions Are Like Sticks Of Gelignite

Chronicle (Levin), 4 March 1948, Page 6

Mr. Fraser Says Resolutions Are Like Sticks Of Gelignite

Press Association) ;i ..

(Per

WELLINGTON, Mar. 3. ' ' Resolutions demanding a withdrawal of the legal proeeedings against offieials of the Carpenters' Union, -vvere really sticks of gelignite Avhich might blast away the 'foundation upon which many unions rested and -with it inevitably many of the unions responsible foi' tiiem," sq.id the Prime Minister, MU' Fraser, this afternoon. "The Government might be compelled by the weiglrt of superfieial resolutions and any eonsev(juei^t action, to suspend the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act and that would mean the siispeiision of awards made uuder .it. That action wouid be disasti;ous. " "Whether siieh resolutions and their publication were sub-judice under Ihe cireumhtaiices, was for the legal anthorities to decide, said Mr. Fraser, but at the monient Le was coneerned \yit3i another a'speet oi' tlie.se resolutions and tlieir implications. He was ;aware ' it was' q.uiter natural for workera;- to Wynipatliise witli an\ither gi'oiip of workers involved in an industrial dispute but on oecasions as at present that sym]>alhy might be misplaeed. NeverHieless, its existenee had to be aet*o] )t cd as a I'aetof iu.the situation. in the earpentet'S 5 dispute the uniqn explored everv pessibility uiidm' Ihe l.(\ and A. Act and received an inerease -but was not salisfied with this general inerease which applied oqually to all other workers. The Carpenters' Union a])|)eale([ Toi- an additional 11 d an hour. Al'ter a I'lill hearing the coiirt disallowed tiie appeal. The union now sought to tlout the inslrumeut ruidfm \]ghioh it operated ;and whs iiit^PP^g to vioiate the Wry Atit AvhAcif allowed it to negotiate eollectively. "Apart J'rom any Iegality a£-Jh-eted,' 1lm eiaim of the carpenterssiiows- exti-eme sectional selfishness in tliaC it ^see"^ to impoh.^ a niarginal dMi'ell'hSe bf ^lporl&ce in tlieir favour over oth'elyworkei'S,- -whieli tli.e-Cpiuit. has. said is not jusi.itied, " .said Mr. Fraser. " i\: uw- (the carpenters' offieials seek the Asympatliv and support of thosy other worke^ whom they ^propjOse io relo^ale'ltliCan inferior rhlative posi'tioh f liU fespect of rah s of pay." Mr. Fraser added that the ear])enters' offieials had embarked on an oiienly avowed policy of breakilig the hnv. The cousequences were inevitable. They could not expect privileges without responsihilitv. The l.C. and A. Act could not he broken with impunitj eithei' by workers or- employers In the interest of the law and of all workers, the Government must insist 011 its observanee otherwise the Act woukl he a sham' and could not be enforced against any other section of the community. I'm'ei-riim- to tlie resolutions, 'Mr. Fraser said they could not be alom c(t to iniluence or prejudiee the ends jif justice.- Moreover, their' siniilarity in terms indieated that they were emanating from the 'same or a similar source. That source was obviously inspired by 1ho.se elementsAvho desired to replace order in indiistry by ehaos and eonl'usion. The inherent symfiathies and loyalties of the work-, crs were heing misused to support Ihose resolutions but once passed they woukl be seized upon by Ihose wreckers and used as weapons against the Act u]lon which most unions relied for their very existenee. In effect the cnmulative residt of the •resolutions may be that the foundation upon wllich many unions rest, would be destroyed. i\lr. Fraser pniphasised the re--sjionsibility of trades eouncils to unions affiliated with thein, adding that if eouncils bypassed unions wliose existenee was me'naeed bv these resolutions and "demands", they were digging graves for the industrial labour movemenl and eonsequently the Labour Government. Iie'was of opinion that a few delegates to some trades eouncils who were politically antagonistic to the Lahour Party, would be delighted with sueli a result but such were not expressing the real opinions of th.ose they represented — or misrepresented. The matter „ was so frought wit-h such dariger to the industrial unions that its full implicatTon should be placed Before the entire union membership which should decide the issue by ballot. Mr. Fraser said he eonsidered a

suspension of jbhe>Aet would be. disastrous. TJieref ore the real opinions of the general ' membership of all. trade unions should- be obtained »tn$ If it iwere found that the trade unioBi'sts of New Zealand did not want the Act and awards, .. then the Government would be compelled to 'take that fact into eonsideratibn. If, however, they desired the Act and awards to coiitiniie, they must insist on them being observed and honoured.