LOOKING ON

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 263, 2 August 1919, Page 7

LOOKING ON

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S STRIKE ATTITUDE

STATEMENT IN PARLIAMENT Melbourne, July 17. 4 statement bearing upon Ihe seamen's sdvik'o ami defining tho Federal Government's altitude in tho matter was inado in the House of Representatives yesterday bv tho Acting-Attorney-Gencral (Mr. Groom), who, in tho absence of Mr. Watt through illness, wasl temporarily in chargo of the House. . The important parts of tho statement wore thoso in which the Government reiterated its intention (o insist that "direct action shall not be permitted to override- the law of the country, and in which it was disclosed that stops are being teken to bring about a peaceful settlement. ■ Jno statement was as follows:"In reaffirming the attitude of tho bnvernment it is both desirable and necessary that tho circumstances surrounding the present disastrous striKe should be clearly set out. Moved by tho experience of many disastrous strikes, tho community decided, and has repeatedly endorsed its decision, to adopt arbitration as the means for the orderly -settlement of industrial disputes. That decision is embodied in tho law of the country, and tho necessary legal machinery ,'<« en created to give effect thereto. Hal machinery is available to tho members of the Seamen's Union, but they not only decline to avail themselves of these means or" obtaining consideration ot their claims; they have openly declared that ther will not proceed by tho orderly and regular methods of arbitration, hut _ intend instead io enforce their decisions bv paralysing the industries of the coun"ir. Finlayson (Q.): That i|& matter of opinion, , _~ Tho Acting-Afctorney-General: I hey seek to win. not through the merits of their case, but from the suffering they hone to inflict. They no longer itasuise either their objects or their methods, both of which constitute an open challenge alike to tho Inw and tho community. From the inception of the strike tho Government has worked with but one object. It has taken every step which offered any prospect of leading to a peaceful settlement of the dispute short of an ignominious surrender to tho demand that direct action should be permitted to triumph, over arbitration, the law and the established institutions of the'community. In the hopo that (he "ood senso of the majority of the men would ultimately reject the sinister advice of their leaders, and that tho growing manifestations of public disapproval would convince them of the folly of continuing to follow that advice, the Government has with great patience refrained from anv action at all likely to complicate or extend the struggle, or to embitter the .minds of (hose who liavo created it. After the Conrj; had been openly flouted the Government- took the action which again enabled the men, without any loss of dignity or prejudice to their case, to again obtain a hearing. But again they made it clear that they were defiantly - determined to. enforce their claims by war upon the community rather than submit Uieni to tho adjudication of the Court. The Government is now. as it always has been, willing to further any proposal making for tho proper and orderly settlement of the distmte. but. it cannot and will not yield to the methods of direct action or the revolutionary throats of those advocating that policy. (Hear, 'hear.) . "The present position," continued Mr. Groom, "cannot be allowed to continue. (.Ministerial cheers.) Already tho strike has caused-great industrial dislocation, with the aec<mi(ian.vii«: widespread privation to thousands of iujioceht people ami serious malen'a.l loss to the country. These grave consequences will inle'nsify with every day's prolongation of the -slrnggie, which, if allowed to proceed, would ullimale'iv strangle all industrial activity, and with it the people's means of-subsistence. The Government realises fully its duly in (he present trying condition?, and is-not assisted in ils discharge by the advice of ill-informed critics. Tt is. however, in possession of information indicating that steps arc being taken to secure a peaceful solution of the present distressful ' problem. It does'not intend to jeopardise this movement, but. on the contrary, will do everything in its' power to help it to n suc-cc.-sful issue. The Government is not without hope that tin's movement will succeed; but should it ,un fori una tely fail, it will lake all steps necessary to secure (lie restoration of iniTiistry Io normal conditions. The Government desires at this critical juncture to make a final appeal to Die men immediately concerned .to even now present their claims to 'the proper tribunal, rather than to continue to wage war upon the entire community an/1 the forces of constitutional authority. The Government presses this appeal with all sincerity and all earnestness, end it asks the co-operation of all the leadors of organised labour who are in a position peculiarly fitting (hem to influence th» decision, of the Seamen's Union. ]t will do what it can-to overcome any difficulties which may appear to exist in the acceptance of this appeal." (Hear, hear.)

jAfrfl Tudor (V.) expressed regret that the Minister hnd not informed members of the Opposition of liis intention to make the statement, especiallv os. to soinu extent, Lalxiur monvhers liad been told that they were practically responsible for the dispute. Tie agreed with the last portion of iho. statement—that the Government was hopeful of a peaceful settlement. II woe fairly well known that it fortnight before the trouble occurred he look officials of lha Stamen's Union to gee' the Acting Prime Minister, and that in the presence of .Admiral Clarkson and other genl lemon, the question was discussed for an hour and a quarter. l[o thus tried, to help Inwards o pencefnl'solution before* (he trouble started. He did not think Ihe reading of .the Ministerial statement would help towards a peaceful solution. Re had purposely refrained from doing anything that' might extend the (rouble. Re-did not know what motive prom pled the Government, in making Ihp statement. He wondered who the."ill-informed crilies" were. Possibly ITiey- were I hose who sat on Die Ministerial side of the House, or'perhaps, fhn.t section-of (ho press that ordinarily supported the (loverumenl, but. was denouncing it. at the present time. Thero would probably be an opportunity to discuss llio merits and demerits of tho dispute later, and ho would then bo prepared to put (he case for tho worker.-', and to show Mtat Ihey. id any rnto, had not been lu blame in the requests Ihey. hud .mmlo lo I lie ship owners in connoc. lion with the dispute, Mr. Finlayson asked whether the Gnvernmonl..was aware that the seamen worn willing to come lo an immediate agreement on three points; first, Ihe question of the six-hour day in port; secondly, (he. insurance mailer; and thirdly, tho claim for extra wages, and thai if those points were conceded Hi? other points in dispute could lie left to (settlement by a tribunal. (Ministerial laughter.) "Was Iho Government aware that I here was only one man in this country who objected to con. code those points, and that he was tho representative of the Government? "Was I Iho Govuriimenl,'aware lhat the shipping ! managers of Australia were willing lo | concede these points at once? if so, ! would the Govor cut instruct, iis repreI scuta I ire lo take a. less dictatorial niti- | I tide towards the seamen and lo open nej gotinlions with them.with a view lo fin I immediate settlement? j Tho Acting Allorney-Geueral said l-bo Government wa.s well awaro of l.ho facts in dispute between the two parties, and was well aware, of the ntlitmtn it should lake up in tho matter. Sir "William Clarkson was not an obstacle lo a settlement, as had been suggested, but was a courageous officer, who was impartially doing his duly in the public, interest. The Government was with him in the action he had taken in Iho past. (Hear, hear.)