LABOUR INSPECTORS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 January 1939, Page 4

LABOUR INSPECTORS

NEW MINISTER’S ADVICE.

FRIENDLY CO-OPERATION DESIRED.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, January 9.

An informal talk with members of the staff of the Labour Department in the city, given by the new Minister of Labour, Mr Webb, contained several references to what was expected by him of the department’s inspectors. To them the Minister addressed an appeal always to carry out their duties in the most friendly manner. Most of the reports he had received from one end of New Zealand to the other about the conduct of inspectors from both business people and Labour organisations were most gratifying, he said. “But, unfortunately, there are some few instances where some of the officers are a little too abrupt and swing their weight about to an unnecessary extent. I can assure you that any officer guilty of an offence of that kind will find it difficult to work with me,” the Minister continued. He expected awards to be observed, but inspectors were not expected to look for trouble. Reasonable interpretation was wanted and he desired that there should be a minimum number of Court cases and a maximum amount of co-operation. Inspectors should confer with both unions and employers affected with the hope of making some adjustment.