LABOUR TROUBLES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 113, 14 May 1937, Page 3

LABOUR TROUBLES.

SETTLEMENT NEAR.

POSITION IN AMERICA.

FAITH IN THE GOVERNMENT.

Hope for a satisfactory settlement of labour troubles in America was expressed this morning by Mr. H. B. Phillips, regional director of General Motors Export Corporation at New York, who passed through Auckland this, morning on his way to Melbourne. It is the first time that Mr. Phillips has been to Australia or Xew Zealand, and lie is combining business with pleasure. He intends to return to the Dominion after

his Australian visit. He proposes to interview his company's representatives in both countries.

Mr. Phillips would not be drawn into a detailed discussion of his particular company, hut spoke rather broadly of heavy industries In general and the automobile industry in particular. He paid that a certain amount of dislocation had occurred in industry through labour troubles, but that matters in dispute were settling down. He admitted that in the past, perhaps, employers had not recognised as much as they might the equitable rights of the employed, but said that now a basis of negotiation had been found. He said. too. that i>ll the other hand labour had reached for the moon, but had not done much to bring that moon within reach. That <=ide of the case should not be forgotten. Confidence in the Government. The employee classes, he said, however, had confidence in the J , resident. 'Sir. Roosevelt, and that was the fact despite the strikes that had taken place. The people realised that the President had a mandate from them, and that he would do his best to honour it. That was an important reason for the gradual solution of labour difficulties. The capitalists, too, had faith in the Government, and were confident that in helping the labouring classes the President would not do anything to jeopardise returning prosperity.

He added that though there had been strikes, with unpleasant features, the country had managed to avoid serious disorder, and because of a mutual faith in the Oovernment the avenues of arbitration would in future be used rather than the means of violence. The right of the employed to bargain was unequivocally admitted in the Wagner law, but not the right to use violence. In that connection he added that it was anticipated that legislation would be passed setting out that onus both on capital and labour.

Generally speaking, he thought that despite the troubles which lie hail mentioned conditions were definitely better in America, and that the graph of returning prosperity, despite' the inevitable "hills"' and "valleys,"' would be steadily upward. The automobile industry, especially among the heavy industries, was particularly busy, perhaps because it was more volatile than some. There was a shortage of some of the metals needed in motor car production, but that was due rather to the demands of heavy industries as a whole than to armaments. The making of arms had had an effect, and still was having an effect, but it was not as great as in some other countries, such as Britain. Mr. Roosevelt and the Courts. Mr. Phillips was asked his opinion about the difference between Mr. Koosevelt and the Supreme Court. He did not give bis own view, but he said that among employers opinions were divided. The ultra-conservative element saw nothing but harmful results from an alteration in the present basis; those less conservative thought that some other arrangement might l>e made, but were essentially cautious in their view, while the progressive element thought definitely that there should l>e some change. There might be something of the same differences of opinion in the working classes, but it was less clearly marked. .Mr. Phillips considered that the change in the Court was fairly generally favoured.

Speaking o f troubles in America led him to state that every nation had its own worries. The international situation proved that, and lie thought there was definite evidence of a closer cooperation between America and Britain. Public opinion seemed to be moving in that direction.