PRIME MINISTER SPEAKS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1900, 7 November 1913, Page 9

PRIME MINISTER SPEAKS.

SETTLERS TAKE A STAND. THE CONDITIONS OF SETTLEMENT The Prime Minister then made his promised statement: — "I have been requested by the Leader of tlio Opposition," lie said, "to make a statement with regard to the present position of the industrial crisis, which we are experiencing, and 1 may say I have no objection to doing so. I informed. the honourable gentleman last evening that tlio matter had been.placed in the hands of the Conciliation Commissioner for the Wellington district, who is aft abio and sincere man, and a man who, I beilevo, has tho, confidence of both 'partie? to the dispute. I am not. able to say up to tho present that ths Commissioner has been able to bring about a reconciliation or a settlement of the difficulty, but he is at work, and tho latest report received at 2.30 to-day informed 1110 that lie was about to meet one of. tha parties to tho dispute.- I have seen tho proposals which the Commissioner proposes to submit to both partieSj and while they may probably require amendment, still, if they are agreed to by both parties, legislation will be required. I may say that at once—they cannot bo given effect to without legislation. I may be able to say what tho legislation is later Oil. Here I would liko to say," continued Mr. Massey, "that the dispute has readied a far more serious stage than was contemplated at first. It is not now a dispute between tho shipowners of this country and tho waterside workers. I want Parliament and the people of the country who havo been involved 'to know that. The people of the country and'the producors aro now taking a hand, and they have to be consulted in tho matter of a, settlement. Just by way of showing 'how acutely tho position is felt in the country districts, I may say I received a telegram this morning from a number of representative men offering. to land in Wellington not. .later than Saturday night 2000 additional mounted men, either to relieve those already hero or to assist them in connection with the work' they havo undertaken. (Hear, hear.) I inako no comment upon this," said Mr. Massey, "I simply state the fact, and I can show thd- "telegram to the Leader of the .Opposition, if necessary. Since tho House met I havo received a telegram from Auckland telling , mo that at the present moment 1500 farmers are camped in tho Auckland Domain, and 500 more aro on their way. The position is that tho settlers havo realised that if something is not dono they are going to suffer a serious loss, i At tho present moment there aro hundreds of trucks of dairy produce standing in the country, and rapidly deteriorating becauso of exposure to rain and Wind. Anyone who knows anything about dairy produce wili know the loss that will'bo suffered under-such circumstances. They realise that there is a probability that tho labour of years .will bo wasted and they aro not go-ing to put up with it. They have made up thoir minds to load tho vessels themselves if nobody else will do it for them. There iB- the position. Not only that, but they havo said: before.a settlement is arrived at wo insist on being con- j suited and I think they have a right to-1 bo consulted. (Hear, hear.) I do not think that legislation is going to settle this dispute, but the great third party to. this',dispute—the. public—has to he considered. If a settlement is arrived at, legislation will.bo necessary to givo effect to.it. I shall bo .very glad indeed to have the opportunity of introducing such legislation in this House. The Government aro. doing their best under very difficult circumstances."

Mr. Wilford: So are .those on this side of tho Houso as well.

Mr. Massey: I.am quite willing to admit that, speaking generally, so far as that side of the Houso is concerned lin difficulties have been placed in our way. Wo aro doing our best under very difficult circumstances such as have never arisen in this country before, and I hope will never arise again. I cannot tell the House and the country everything wo aro doing—what wo aro going to do to-morrow or tho next day, but the time will come when we will take tho Houso fully into our confidence. From the very first wo have done our very best to bring about a settlement of this difficulty, and I ask members not to hamper or hinder us by saying unwise things. ' Mr. Webb: A settlement by bullet and baton!

Sir Joseph Ward said ho had hetird with very deep interest tho probability of the Conciliation Commissioner being able to bring about some satisfactory settlement between'the parties;

Mr. Massey: I did not say probability. I said possibility. Sir Joseph Ward: I can only sincerely hope that it will turn out right. He recognised that legislation of some kind was essential. Tho statement of tho Prime Minister confirmed what thoy knew of the position. It was a serious one, and callcd for calm and temperate consideration'and judgment. - .