The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News The Echo and The Sun. FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 1939. GOVERNMENTS ENEMIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 152, 30 June 1939, Page 6

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News The Echo and The Sun.

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 1939. GOVERNMENTS ENEMIES.

Tor the rauxr that lacks assistance, for the icroiifl that, reeds resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

The public is troubled ia mind by the frequently recurring evidence of industrial unre.-t. Usually it dues not feel qualified tu express an opinion on the merits of disputes, but it does know that under the Arbitration Act there is procedure provided for the settlement of disputes without cessation of work. It knows, too, that the need of the day is efficient production, and that the < iovernment, which the workers regard as their (iovernment, has appealed to them time and again to do nothing to check production. In some industries, mai'ife.-tly, the appeal has fallen nu deaf ears. What will be the outcome? There ran he only one outcome in a law-abiding ci itry. The law itiu.-t prevail, and the (iovertinietit must enforce the law. In (he light of preceding circumstances, the warning given yesterday by the Minister of Labour to industrial organisations which re.sort to "d'rvct action" when awards of the Arbitration Court are unfavourable to them is full of significance. Mr. Webb, in his efforts to induce and maintain industrial peace, has relied hitherto on exhortation and persuasion. Now, judged by his incisive statement yesteiday, he sees that something more is needed. He has with full justification pointed out that if an industrial organisation submits its case to arbitration it is legally bound to abide by the decision of the Court, and said the (iovernment intends to act to prevent any organisation from " having it both ways." There is no sound ground upon which this view and intention can be criticised, but it should be pointed out that the Government has a duty to ensure that access to the Court for legitimate purposes is easy and quick. This Government is of course not the first Labour Government to be harassed by the actions of its own followers. In this connection it is interesting „o read the candid confession made in France early this month by the Socialist leader, M. Blum, who was Prime Minister in the Popular Front Government of 1936-37. He said that both the financial difficulties which had beset the Government, and the adverse vote of the Senate which finally overthrew it, were caused by the chronic disorder in French industry. " The Senate," he said, " would not have overthrown us had it not had the clear impre-ssion that the working class was refusing to follow the Government's advice." M. Blum did not — it will be noted —ascribe his defeat to "money power" or to the machinations of the Socialists' political enemies, but to the Government's own followers. His experience has a meaning for New Zealand. Organisations which, in defiance of the Government's appeals, hold stop-work meetings and pass a resolution, inter alia, affirming their strong support of the Government, are not thereby showing their friendliness to the Government. They are helping to bring it down.