DRASTIC STEPS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 281, 28 November 1938, Page 10

DRASTIC STEPS.

TAKEN BY WORKERS, SPEAKERS' CONDEMNATION. FEDERATION DISAPPROVES. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHKISTCIII RCH, Sunday. Recent strikes in industry were condemned ms uiiiiei-essary by the Hon. I). <J. Sullivan. Minister of Industries and Commerce, and Mr. .1. Roberts, chairman of the Federation of Labour, in speeches in Christchurch oil Saturday night. The disapproval of the Federation of Labour of these strike tactics was voiced by Mr. Roberts, who said the federation had not been consulted before strike action was taken, nor had it given its concurrence. "The workers have no need to take the drastic steps that some organisations have recently taken."' said Mr. Sullivan. "It is only by the workers being thoroughly and properly organised and disciplined that these sporadic ' and unnecessary outbreaks can be controlled. Continuity of Work. "Tt is essential in a country like ours, where the Government is fighting capitalism for the good of the workers and of democracy, that there should be continuity of work and action behind the Government." added the Minister. "The subversive movements are apathy and disruption. 1 hope they do not take place in New Zealand, where the whole Labour party is deter mined to carry out its plan." Mr. Roberts said: "If unions desire to strike, they should cancel their existing registration and register under the Trade Union Act. The strikes that have occurred in the last few months were not called after consultation with, or 5 with the concurrence of, the Federation i of Labour. s Frank View of Position. "One must be quite frank in matters 1 of this kind. When unions register under r the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act they forfeit their right to strike when awards made from time to B time are unsatisfactory. i "It is impossible for the Government e to function if obstacles are raised by ; the workers. There is no compulsion to register under the Industrial C'onciliat tion and Arbitration Art. I make these „ remarks with a full sense of responsi.1 bility."