"IT IS REGRETTABLE"

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 184, 21 August 1937, Page 6

"IT IS REGRETTABLE"

-Preaa Association.!

Mr. Lee's Comment on Housing Strike WAGES DECISION AWAITED

(By Telesrraph-

WELLINGTON, Last Night. When the Press Association message from Auckland concerningt the carpenters' demand for increases in wages on the Orakei housing contract was referred to him, Mr J. A. Lee, Farliamentary Under-8ecretary for Housing, said it was interesting to appreciate that, before the advent of the Labour Government, practically alJ carpeaters were locked out by the last Government. It was regrettable that the alteration in tho conditions of einployment broiight about by the Labour Government should be used as the basis of the dispute. The dilference could j have beeu settled in conciliation on the basis of 2/S an hour, but on the failure of conciliation the council had rei'erred tlie question to the Arbitration Court. !Mr Lee said that tlie acting-Ministcr of Labour, tlie Hon. P. C. Webb, and Ihe Labour Departmeiit aud the macliincry set up by the Labour Government wero Tosponsibfo for the settlement of industrial disputes. He had eommuuicated with Auckland to-day on this niatter. lt was regrettable that the first strike that iiad occurred ou a carpenters' job Should have happeued wkere the Labour ' Government was trying to build liouses for the workers, and when improved conditions brought about by the Labour Government had created a shortage of carpenters. lf isolated and precipitalo action were indulged iu, it would. not help the Government. He hoped that as soon as a new ariaugement was reached there wouid be ireedom from industrial disputes on Government housing jobs.