STRIKE THREATS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 December 1943, Page 6

STRIKE THREATS

GOVERNMENT DETERMINATION. WILL NOT BE DEFIED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, December 28. “Threats of work stoppages do no good. The Government must be the Government, even if it has to take action which will cause sorrow to many. The Government is determined to see that order is maintained, and it will not be defied. I want to repeat what the Prime Minister has already said: “That stoppages on the industrial front now are tantamount to extending the hand of welcome to Tokio.” With these words the Minister of Labour, Mr Webb, opened a conference this, morning at which representatives of the Federation of Labour, the Gas Workers’ Union, the Auckland Gas Company, and the Labour, Department were present to discuss wages and conditions in the gas industry in Auckland. Mr Webb said that the community suffered when gas' was not produced, and the shareholders of the company also suffered. The workers had an obligation to get together. Much could be achieved by goodwill, co-operation, and mutual trust. It was stated that subsequently both sides agreed to make every effort to get a co-operative contract system started at the gas works. The workers’ and employers’ representatives will each draw up a scheme and will then ■meet to see if they can co-ordinate their proposals. It was added that it was expected that a scheme satisfactory to both parties would be devised at an early date.