“THE WHOLE THING WRONG.”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 November 1938, Page 4

“THE WHOLE THING WRONG.”

PEOPLE in all parts of the country, irrespective of political creed, may be expected to concur heartily in the opinion expressed by the Prime Minister with reference to the waterfront dispute now happily settled in Auckland that: The whole thing' is wrong and there must be a better foundation for work on the waterfront.” Given the right, spirit of determination, there should be no great difficulty in making an end of these periodical blockades of our ports on account ol frequently trivial disputes between the waterside workers and their employers. In a country in which every possible provision is made for the orderly regulation of labour conditions, it is both fantastic and outrageous that external and internal trade should at intervals be paralysed, with great loss to all sections of the community. Everyone, presumably, is agreed that fair and just conditions of employment should be established and maintained on the waterfronts, but it is preposterously mu disenable, and intolerable that trade and inclustry generally should from’ time to time be thrown out of gear because some detail point of contention, has arisen in the business of handling cargo. The total cost of the hold-up of a week and a half at Auckland will run into very big figures. If it is true, as has been stated, that the Auckland watersiders in the, end will be none the worse off', many others, including large numbers of wage-earners in. various industries, certainly are much less happily placed. As Mr Savage has said, it should be possible to do justice to all concerned without holding up the country’s business. The Prime Minister will not lack support if he takes practical and determined action to make an end of conditions in which, as he observed, “the whole economic life of the country is being strangled while arguments are taking place between the companies and the watersiders.”