Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 12 March 1932, Page 4

Parliament has devoted most of the session so far to an aimless discussion on the Address-in-Reply. That course seems to have grown into a very bad custom. Upwards of fifty speeches were necessary before Mr Holland s usual vote of no-confidence was disposed of, and the House adopted the formal Address-in-Reply to the Gov-ernor-General. But now the House has settled down to a discussion on the amendment to the Arbitration Act. There is room of plenty of discussion on this subject, and the Labour members are not neglecting their assumed duty in the matter. So far as the speeches have gone, there appears to be an ignoring of trading and industrial 1 conditions as they truly are. it is nice to pay high wages and to have industry secured with all sorts of conditions when the trade and times permit of it. But when men are being dispersed with because trading conditions will not permit payment of high wages, and the men are put olf under conditions which must be considered hard, it is surely the right thing to do to seek for some remedy to ameliorate the conditions with a view to a greater, not a lessor, number being provided with work. Tt 'must he admitted some amendment is nece.'Sarv, and it is for the House to provide the. machinery to bring about the much needed relief. The Government, no doubt after careful consideration' and consultation, has prepared a measure. There is the suggestion' if will have a stormy passage from Labour. That may he SO, blit ti: ‘ tactics of always pulling down, and not attempting to build up' must sooner or later find political Labour out. It is all very well to clamour for higher wages, but if they jure nor forthcoming, and Labour members should It,now they are not, j then a more reasonable attitude of

constructive and not destructive opposition should be pursued. The Government lias a. duty to perform to the country as a whole in regard to helping employment. It, as is generally agreed, the arbitration law and consequent- awards, are creating unemployment, then the obvious duty is to try and remedy the position. That is the (sole aim of the Government, and no donht the wisdom of the House will deal with the question as the circumstances of the case warrant.