Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1938. INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 22, 5 November 1938, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1938. INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

The number of stoppages of work since the return of the Labour Government for a further term of office may or may not be due to an assumption by organised unionism that the Administration will be sympathetic toward any step taken to obtain satisfaction of their demands. But whatever the explanation the fact remains that there has been a .series of interruptions that have interfered more or less seriously with several sections of industrial activity. If the tendency is not promptly checked there is danger of the development of a situation that may have a regrettable effect on the Dominion as a whole. Those who are inclined to employ the strike method for the purpose of obtaining conditions more to their liking should be made to realise the duty they owe not only to themselves but also to the whole country and the Government should do its utmost to ensure that the interests of the country are conserved. If the Government s policy is to be implemented efficiently it is necessary that production should proceed without any undue interruption. Any action that adversely affects industry must imperil the objective that Labour has set for itself. Some time ago Mr Savage paraphrased the “I am the State” of Louis XIV. thus: “We are the Government.” The present need is that the Government make good his assertion by acting with the firmness expected of an administratiofi that has such a conception of its powers. Firmness, however, does not mean that any legitimate grievance should not be removed. One of the causes of friction has been delay in the framing of industrial awards, and if there is any reasonable ground for complaint on this score the recent decision that the second Court of Arbitration cease to function on November 22 might well be reviewed.