"MAKING THINGS IMPOSSIBLE"

Evening Star, Issue 22443, 14 September 1936, Page 10

"MAKING THINGS IMPOSSIBLE"

TRADE UNIONS’ INCONSIDERATE THREATS MINISTER'S APPEAL AND WARNING [Special to the ‘ Star.’l AUCKLAND, September 13. An appeal to trade unionists to uphold the Labour Government and not to put difficulties in its' way was made by the Hon. P. Fraser; Minister of Education and Health, in an address to-night. Mr Fraser said that the Labour Party stood for the highest standard of living that could be secured at any particular time. “ To those Vho have threatened all sorts of things in a selfish, inconsiderate, and a not understanding way,” said Mr Fraser, “to those who have threatened to throw industry out of gear because they have not got just what they want, 1 say that the 40-hour week is not mainly for the benefit of those in constant work—though we recognise the importance of leisure—but for the benefit of those who have not had a chance to work. “The Government has promised that within-the next two years it will introduce a national superannuation and health scheme which will abolish for all time the fear of poverty from this Dominion, But the Government and the trades unions cannot maintain what they have already wop unless the unions work in co-operation with the Government they have helped to elect. All that is needed is understanding. No trade unionists want to see the Labour Government crash, or what it has given them taken away—but there is a serious danger of that.” Recent legislation had given a new lease of life to trade unionism. The Government believed in trade union principles, and trusted unionists’ common sense to use the opportunity given them ,to . build up their strength. Whether they would so use it remained to be seen. “ DEMOCRACY AT STAKE.” “ Not only trade unionism but democracy! itself at stake,” said Mr Fraser. “Therefore, the message I would give is that if democracy fails in New Zealand, it fails everywhere. If the Labour Government fails because workers fail to support it properly, democracy will crash with it. Do not imagine that New Zealand is' different from the rest of the world. There are forces which, if the Labour Government fails, will step in and not bother about ballot boxes or any ,of that' sort of nonsense. A Labour Government must govern with the consent and help of. the people. If it cannot enforce the law with their, strength, it must abdicate, unless’ it uses power against the working people who elected it. That is an. impossible position, but what is the alternative—to walk out and let the opponents in? “I tell trade unionists frankly that they are making things impossible for the Labour Government. They say they do not wish to embarrass it, and then proceed to do so. If the Government is made ridiculous, it is not fit to govern. The Government is not going out. It is here to make industry go normally. ' . “I do not feel like appealing on a matter like this. The duty of a .trade unionist, if he has any sense at all, is to see that industry is kept going, to enable the Labour Government to carry out its programme for the abolition of poverty for ever. If we go from democracy to dictatorship, the Fault will lie with those thoughtless people who for their own petty ' ends endangered the whole fabric of Labour,” concluded Mr Fraser.