PLAIN SPEAKING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 January 1942, Page 4

PLAIN SPEAKING

OVER STOPPAGE OF WORK MINISTER ADDRESSES MEN. A BARRAGE OF QUESTIONS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, January 27. Plain speaking characterised exchanges between the Minister of Labour, Mr Webb, and many of the 1700 employees at the Westfield freezing works whom he addressed at the lunch interval. The chief grievances ventilated in questions by the workers : were in regard to the bus services to ■ and from the works and the Govern- ’ ment’s action in issuing the overtime and holiday suspension order which 1 abrogates industrial awards in respect ’ of payment for work done on holidays, i Mr Webb was still being assailed ’ with questions when the meeting, , which lasted for 80 minutes, was closed by the chairman, Mr R. Barry, [ president of the works branch of the , union. Co-operation Asked For. I “Because we are jealous of what we i have done to improve conditions in ■ New Zealand, we are determined that - no stupid action will jeopardise the t Labour Government,” declared Mr - Webb in stressing the serious position in the Pacific. Australian territory 3 had been bombarded and attacked. “Any day our turn might come,” • continued Mr Webb. It was just as 1 much the epneern of workers who were asked to do their part by producing. the food and munitions required by their comrades in the 5 trenches. He was proceeding to extol the work of the Government in regard ’ to the war when a voice interrupted: ’ “What about the bus service to the ’ works?” , Mr Webb said he wanted to see the ' best possible facilities provided, and , explained the reasons for petrol re- ’ strictions. A voice: What about your big car? j “Some of those who are growling now about having no petrol were get- > ting 10s a week on relief works before the Labour Government ’ came into office,” replied Mr Webb. “They now have cars and are growling because they have no petrol or their income tax is too high. Mr Webb continued that the Government was not going to tolerate stoppages of work which held up production. Any union guilty of that would be deregistered. “We do not want to be hard on you; we only want your co-operation,” he continued. “Let us get together now.. Employers and employees must work together, and I would like to see a joint commiftee operating in every industry. Differences can be adjusted without holding up production. Everything is now in the melting pot and we are facing the greatest menace ever faced by. humanity. In these days our motto should be ‘Work, more work, and still more work.’ ” Lively Exchanges. From all parts of the assembly came a barrage of qestions at the conclusion of Mr Webb’s address. In reply to an inquiry as to what channels were open to workers to ventilate their grievances, Mr Webb said there was the industrial disputes committee. “JJad you approached me I could have convened a conference, but you never gave -me a chance,” he added, amid cries of dissent. As to the bus service, Mr Webb promised to call a conference of the railway and transport services concerned. “I will do that right away,” he declared. A questioner: “Why were two members of the Hotel Workers’ Union appointed to the Industrial Council and no representatives of the freezing industry appointed?” Mr Webb: The two men mentioned were appointed by the Federation of Labour and represent 300,000 workers. A voice: They were appointed by the natidhal executive and the rank and file were not consulted. Another questioner asked what happened to the wages which workers lost under the overtime and holiday suspensions order. “Are employers being asked to hand money over to the Government?” he asked. The Minister: It may go to help pay old age pensions and the other social benefits we have given people. After loud cries of. dissent had subsided, Mr Webb said he was against any employer malting profit out of the war. The question was not so simple of solution as some people seemed to think. Numerous questioners were striving to be heard when the chairman declared the meeting closed without any resolution being submitted.