UNITED WAR EFFORT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 March 1941, Page 8

UNITED WAR EFFORT

WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS IN BRITAIN VALUE OF TRADE UNION ORGANISATION CONGRESS PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. ' (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 27. “At this time we have brought into being a National Government which rests as one of strength on the trade union organisation of this country," said the president of the Trades Union Congress in welcoming the United States Ambassador, Mr. Winant. “Some differences have occurred from time to time.” he said, “but everyone knows that the employers of this country are deeply thankful that there is in existence a strong organised trade union movement with which they can deal, which keeps its bargains and which moves along a strongly controlled and stable path of policy. “We have asked a great deal of

labour but the trade union movement has willingly agreed in this war to the temporary suspension of privileges which it has taken generations to win. These privileges have, as it were, been handed over to the custody and keeping of the State for the common purpose. Without that we should not have been able to produce under the severe conditions of the enemy’s fire the | enormous output of munitions of all} kinds which were needed if we were to let our soldiers, sailors and airmen meet the enemy on even terms of equipment. “It is a matter of honour for the whole country that the privileges which the trade unions have surreiiI dered should be restored when this crisis has passed away unless some better arrangement can be made. “I have always been shy of defining war aims, but. of course, no one can suppose that if those great communities struggling, not only for their own lives but also for the freedom and progress of the world, emerge victorious there will not be an electric atmosphere jn the world under which it will be possible to advance toward greater and broader social unity and justice than could otherwise have been achieved in a score of years. “We are not theorists and not doctrinaires. Trade unionists are practical men aiming at practical results. I might say our aims will be to build a society in which there will be wealth and culture but in which wealth shall not prey on commonwealth nor culture develop into clash.” In reply, Mr. Winant said, “Strength, understanding and leadership is making itself felt more and more ’day by day. It already has enabled you to resist what no slave or regimented people could ever resist. It will bring you to total victory.”