REFERENCE IN PARLIAMENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8726, 27 November 1913, Page 5

REFERENCE IN PARLIAMENT.

■S:SIR JOSEPH WARD'S SUGGESTION

THE PREMIER'S PREDICTION.

WELLINGTON, November 26:

In the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, Sir Joseph .Ward asked, a question of the Prime Minister '. relative to the strike. • 'The Leader of the Opposition slated at the outset that he was not in any way prompted by party feelings, nor had he directly or Indirectly attempted to make —capital out- of the great national calamity^ Loss; to the ; country as the outcome of the strike would, he estimated, amount to a quarter-of a million weekly. That loss would be borne by the' whole. communi fey—-passed on in the, way of increased charges. The public, who had sent members to •Parliament, was most concerned to secure a settlement, and, 'though he might be subjected vto misrepresentation and misunderstanding, he? felt it his duty, afte»ieaseful consideration, to suggest some effective means' by which a settlement might be- effected.. Any ■such settlement must be just to both sides. If each -side' wanted no more than justice,' it ought to submit the dispute ■" to the unconditional arbitrament ofr a tribunal, and lie suggested Sir Joshua v\yilliams as arbitrator. He i was a just, far-seeing, fearless judge, and if either side refused to submit its case to his decision it would be an admission of weakness, or that one side wanted more than justice. If the course suggested by him were carried out, he was convinced that the whole of tie unions now out would return to work pending the finding of the tribunal. -'•;.':;';;' i> , ■■':..'-••.-'•' ■,'.■" "■'■■' . ■'■■ " ■■ ■■■ Vj ' The Prime Minister, replying, said that he was very glad that Sir Joseph Ward had not acted from any party standpoint. The Government was fully aware of its responsibility in the matter, and also of the great loss that was 'being occasioned the country through the trouble. "He asked the House to view the matter m comparison with the ■condition of affairs of two or three weeks ago. At that time nearly every port was closed, and the whole of the trade of the Dominion held up. Now, ■practically every port was open and working. In tact, the Auckland strike was virtually ended. He had made the suggestion f offered by Sir Joseph "Ward to both parties early in tho troulble, but it had been refused. Arrangements would be made to prevent a recurrence of the trouble, so far as tjie •waterside workers were concerned, in the future. No settlement of the dispute could be effected without consideration being given to the producers of the -country and the new unions. He predicted that before Christmas ■ the industrial trouble would, be -ended". '• '