THE NATIONAL SERVICES

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 114, 15 May 1926, Page 9

THE NATIONAL SERVICES

"Under those circumstances no Government could have declined to take up the duties of providing national services. These were maintained partly by men not striking and partly from volunteers from the large majority of the nation not directly concerned in the strike. I have given only one pledge— that those who helped the Government should not suffer for that reason. I hope my ■word will always stand for something in England. If I went back on that pledge who would trust mc again? "There is a real difficulty in reconciling a pledge of that kind with the taking back of all men to work. The problem must be thrashed out between the unions and the Employers' Associations. Thfc situation calls for real statesmanship. I feel that any prolonged discussion, where full and accurate information is not always available and where a sense of responsibility *may he lacking, would likely hamper those beginning delicate and difficult negotiations.

"Unfortunately there has been a great deal of propaganda on both sides. Personally, I have an instinctive dislike for propaganda, particularly that stating that an attack on the wa?es of railwaymen is pending. What I want to say is that I will countenance no attempt on the part of any employer to use thr present occasion for trying in any way to set a reduction in wages on those in force before the strike or an increase in the hours of work.

"Tt must be remembered that wp could rot have a sreneral hold-up of thp business of the country even for a week or a fortnight withoxit dislocating anrl deranging the trade of the country. T have no knowledge of the extent to ■which this has happened, hut foreign contracts have been cancelled and there will.. be .an entire cessation or great timidity in placing fresh, orders.