AGREEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 67, 21 March 1939, Page 8

AGREEMENTS.

MUST BE KEPT. MINISTERS EMPHATIC. ALIt TOLD « TO FLAT GAME." (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, this day. In an official statement following the meeting of watersidere the Hon. P. C. Webb, Minister of Labour, and the Hon. P. Fraser, Minister of Marine, stated that they gave an outline of the Government's policy concerning any form of interference with work on the waterfront that would prove detrimental to the loading and discharging of cargoes. They emphasised that the Government had supported and encouraged all forms of genuine unionism, and had assisted workers generally to obtain the highest standard of living that industry could pay. The Government, through the Labour Department, assisted in the enforcement of those agreements, but insisted that once an agreement was come to any dispute or disagreement arising out of the agreement should be referred through constitutional channels to be dealt with by the disputes committee, local and national.

The case for the workers should be handled by their accredited representatives and irregular action should not be tolerated. He pointed out that the very industrial life of the community and the maintenance of a higher standard of living was dependent on efficient work not only on the waterfront but throughout New Zealand. The Ministers appealed to the men to appreciate that point of view. They pointed out that' the Government would not protect men who would not do a reasonable day's work for the money received and they were most emphatic that if the men declined to work they could not accept and would not get the Government's backing. It was agreed by the workers themselvee that a small minority of their members were not playing the game. The Minister appealed to those members to play the game and do a fair day's work. Failing that, they said, they could not expect to enjoy the privileges of a close union and equalisation of hour*.

The Minister also pointed out plainly the steps the Government would be compelled to take if the nation's economic life continued to be threatened by go-slow or similar detrimental tactics.

The Ministers made it clear that tha Government was fully conscious of its responsibility to the people of this country and would not hesitate to use its full powers in the protection of the interest* of the country, including those of genuine trade unionism, which ehould and would co-operate with the Government in ite. work of advancement.

Both Ministers were gratified with the excellent spirit displayed by the great majority of the men. and they left the meeting confident that more efficient work and close co-operation would prevail. '

They stated that they expected the same co-operation from "the shipowners. The Government wae anxious to facilitate the economic loading and discharging of vessels and asked the men for their fullest co-operation in the discharge of that work.