PRIVILEGED CLASSES,

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 73, 27 March 1940, Page 6

PRIVILEGED CLASSES,

Labour. Socialists, Nationalist, Communists all «yiy they wish to make New Zealand safe for democracy. I presume that includes, so far as Government arrangement and expenditure are concerned, equality of opportunity, payment according to value of work and equal pay for eqnal work. We have escaped the incubus of hereditary aristocracy, but we have not escaped privileged classes, and one that has recently come once more into the limelight is the watersiders' union. If sincere for democracy, the Government will now prevent this privileged class from continuing its monopoly. Even to anyone that has never put foot on a wharf, the fact that the tin ion is so keen on keeping others from working on the wharf is an indication that wharf labour is more desirable than other kind* of manual labour. If it l>e necessary that watersiders should get more concessions than others, then the Government should at least see to it that others get a fair innings. I would suggest that tho«s that have been in the union a considerable time should get notice that they will have to give someone else a chance, those of this privileged class that have been in it for the shortest time to get the longest notice, though there may be reasons for keeping some men with exceptional qualifications on a more permanent basis. If there is to be anything in the direction of a monopoly, it would be fairer to give preference to suitable candidates that have done their bit on a farm. They would then have the opportunity "of city amenities for six months, a year, or whatever period is arranged and then take back to Woopwoop or Kauakaa the culture and refinement that a period on the waterfront has enabled him to acquire, CHAS. C. MeADAM.