POSITIVE DISGUST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 March 1939, Page 5

POSITIVE DISGUST

FELT BY GOVERNMENT ' I EVENTS ON THE WELLINGTON WATERFRONT. MINISTER SAYS HOLD-UPS MUST CEASE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The serious view taken by the Government of the present situation on the Wellington waterfront was referred to on Saturday by the Minister of Labour, Mr Webb. He said the Government was positively disgusted with the turn of events and that whoever was responsible could not expect any sym_pathy or consideration from the Government. “We hoped when we called the conference to create a better spirit into the whole workings on the waterfront,” said Mr Webb, “and with the possible exception of Wellington. I feel safe in saying that a better spirit does prevail. What has happened in Wellington it is difficult for me to ascertain, but the Government is compelled in the circumstances to take a serious view of the present situation, and is determined that these hold-ups shall stop. “If the employers are to blame we will have them understand that the produce of this country is not going to be held up and the market sacrificed because of their action. If the walersiders are to blame, and if they have, as is alleged, deliberately adopted a i'go-slow’ policy, then the watersiders must realise that there can .only be one Government, and while we will stand by them a 100 per cent to maintain a standard of living undreamed of in the past, at the same time we demand the same degree of reciprocity from the men who work on the waterfront. If waterside workers expect to retain the limitation of membership, the bureau system of engaging labour, together with equalisation of hours, they should give service to the industry and comply with the terms of the award. When a dispute arises it should be dealt with through the proper constitutional channels without any interruption of work.

“The waterside workers of this country have a responsibility to their own organisation, to the industry, and particularly to the Government. We expect them to ’carry out that responsibility, and if they don’t do it it will be the duty of the Government to see that the work will be carried out by men who will recognise that responsibility and thereby uphold the best traditions of trade unionism. “The Government will do everything in its power to maintain those traditions, but if there are people who imagine that they are a power superior to the Government, they are mistaken. Our overseas trade must be carried on unhampered by ‘hold-ups,’ and any trade unionist who retards the regular flow of trade overseas is acting against the best interests of the Government, the country, and particularly against his own industrial organisation.

"The Government has a duty to the people of New Zealand," added the Minister. “It will not shirk that duty, but will see to it that whatever happens the principles of trade unionism will be maintained and the sea-borne trade of this country carried on in such a manner that our overseas markets will receive regular shipments of our produce.”