A ONE-SIDED VIEW.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 281, 25 November 1921, Page 4

A ONE-SIDED VIEW.

The viovernment's want of imagination in handling industrial problems is illustrated in the statement made yesterday about waterside work by the Minister of Labour. It is interesting to learn that Mr. Anderson investigated the waterside labour problem "very carefully" during the recess. Unfortunately by the time he had decided to make recommendations to Cabinet, "tho slump had arrived, and the master had ceased to be ac urgent as it had heen." This means only that the urgency was easier from the employers' point of view. During a lengthy period 'before the "slump," the waterside workers were able to hold their own: some people might say more than hold their own. Now the employers arc masters of the situation, and Mr. Anderson complacently thinks that this is a. sufficient reason for postponing consideration of the problem. Does it not occur to him that the problcfil docs not cease to be such when the worker is badly off, and that the time may be more favourable for placing the whole question of waterside , labour on a sounder basis.