WORKSHOPS STRIKE

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21368, 12 March 1941, Page 6

WORKSHOPS STRIKE

Wherever the fault lies, the striking of 1600 men at the Woburn workshops at Wellington is a disastrous drag on New Zealand’s war effort which cannot be allowed to continue. Many of these men are engaged in the manufacture of war materials which are essential to the country’s defence. Every hour this work is delayed exposes New Zealand to greater peril. The young industry is just getting into its stride, and New Zealand as a whole cannot stand by and see its wartime effort wrecked by a dispute between the men and the Minister. The first need is for the men to get back to work at once. If they do that they will have a' better chance of having any legitimate grievance rectified.

The trouble has arisen over the refusal of some of the men to work on Saturday morning without payment at overtime rates. Because they refused, 280 men were refused admission to the works on instructions from the Minister, the Hon. R. Semple, who has thus collided with serious trouble early in his administration of the Railways portfolio. Out of sympathy for the men originally involved, hundreds more have struck, and so a vital industry lies idle while the men and the Minister engage in a wordy battle. Mr Semple declares the men’s attitude is a definite challenge to the authority of the Government and the men accuse Mr Semple of adopting an uncompromising attitude. What chiefly concerns the public is the fact that the wheels of a war industry are standing still while a relentless enemy threatens.

There can be no justification for this strike in the midst of a war but at the same time the Government cannot wholly escape blame. The 40-hour week was introduced by the Government as a matter of policy and the public was led to believe it was sufficient to meet the country’s needs. What effort has been made to impress upon the people the inevitable fact that a nation working 40 hours a week is at a tragic disadvantage when opposed in war to a nation willing to work almost twice as many hours ? Attempts to work longer hours have been punished and discouraged because hours have been fixed by awards. Thus many working men have gained .the fixed impression that longer hours are neither necessary nor desirable and they resent any attempt to extend the working week. An awakening is necessary if New Zealand is to give of its best in the defence of the Empire, and in that awakening the Government must take the leading part.