THE CLOTHING TRADE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 159, 18 April 1938, Page 3

THE CLOTHING TRADE.

EMPLOYERS’ ACTION CRITICISED

ATTITUDE OF THE MINISTER

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, April 16

“J notice that the employers are going to make representations to the Go\ eminent. It seems to tnc it is becoming a common practice for dismissals to be the forerunner of such representations said the Minister for Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) to-day, when asked to comment on the reported position in the Dominion clothing trade. “Whether or not the employers think that is more likely to impress the Government I don’t know,” Mr Armstrong continued, “but I think quite a lot of the dismissals could be avoided it the employers discussed these matters with the Government first, with a view to avoiding the necessity for dismissals.

“To dismiss employees and then seek a remedy from the Government is, to inv mind, entirely wrong,” lie said, “just as wrong ns it is for the workers to go on strike and discuss their grievances afterwards. .1 am just as much opposed to one method ns to the other.

“The remedy, however, is not in my hands. If it is a question of Customs duties, the matter, of course,, is one for the Minister for Customs. I 111 not saying it is so in these cases,, because I do not know, but sometimes this kind of trouble is due to inefficient management and over-capitalised industry.”