PREFERENCE IN WORK

Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1930, Page 5

PREFERENCE IN WORK

THE UNION ' PRINCIPLE

(Australian Press Association.)

CANBERRA, May. 2

There were impassioned speeches in the Federal House of Representatives upon the motion for adjournment, moved by Colonel Cameron, to protest against the abolition preference in employment to returned soldiers. He said at least eightv-five thousand returned men would be affected. He insisted that the Government , was bound to stand by returned men. It was nothing short of a scandal to make them play second fiddle to the ordinary unionists, who played no part in the war, * The Prime Minister, Mr Soullin, denied that the Government had abolished preference to soldiers. He pointed out that the policy of the Government was preference for unionists. and no returned soldiers could be denied preference if he joined 1 the union. The unionists, lie said, hatmade arbitration possible. Arbitration was the policy of the country and preference to unionists was the policy of the Court. He understood that eighty per r-out of the returned men were unionists. Without unionism, added MV Scuillin, “it would have been God help the returned soldeirs!” 'Jhese people who shouted the most for them had exploited and robbed them ! An uproar followed, after which Mr \V. Hughes, defending the returned soldiers, said the Government had done wrong, an a very foolish thing •The motion was talked out.