WHERE LABOUR RULES.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 October 1928, Page 7

WHERE LABOUR RULES.

CHaOS IN AUSTRALIA. STRONG ATTITUDE OF THE GOVERNMENT. “If there are worse labour conditions than those prevailing in Australia to-day may 1 never again have occasion to visit that country,” said Mr Frank Goldberg, managing director of the Goldberg Advertising Agency Ltd., of Australia and New Zealand, who leached Auckland by the Marama on Tuesday. “ When I left Australia, Adelaide was bristling with bayonets,” continued Mr Goldberg. 1 Only a few hours be'fore sailing, one of my principal clients showed me a letter from Ins Adelaide branch, stating that several of the leading business houses had decided to close down their doors until the present struggle reached finality. Here in New Zealand you can scarcely realise the critical state which prevails. In many districts a condition amounting almost to civil war exists. Sydney, the locale of my own head office, fortunately remains comparatively calm. Work at the waterside is proceeding fairly quietly tnere, ’hut there is the constant fear that the state of affairs existing at other ports may prove infectious’

‘‘The one redeeming 'feature of the whole situation,” Mr Goldberg coil tinued, “is the strong attitude taken up by the Bruce Government. Almost for the first time, I think, the people of Australia feel that those in authority are. determined not to relent in their protection of transport facilities. The move whereby all waterside workers are compelled to he licensed was cleverly conceived and admirably exerted. The general trend of public opinion is decidedly against the strikers, and there is no doubt that the methods now being employed by the Federal Government have the unqualified approval of the bulk of the population.

“It is a great tribute to the commercial world of Australia that in spite of the critical position which has arisen, business circles remain calm and comparatively easy in mind. I'f any apprehension is felt it is well concealed. We, who are engaged in the business of '■ advertising, are able to keep a finger constantly on the pulse of business affairs, and I am proud to be able to say that no serious flutter is felt in spite of the undeniable seriousness of the industrial position. “Occurring at a time when, from an economic standpoint, Australia is in need of the utmost co-operation from Labour, the present strike might well have spelt commercial chaos. Even, now, a commendable spirit of courage and determination ; a spirit in accord with the finest traditions o'f the Empire, and one feels that the Commonwealth will come out ‘on. top’ in spite of the handicaps.” * Questioned as to the effects of the recent referendum on prohibition in New South Wales, Mr Goldberg stated that there was never any real doubt as to the ultimate issue. Both sides spent enormous sums in publishing their arguments.