PRIME MINISTER’S OPINION

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22271, 9 December 1937, Page 12

PRIME MINISTER’S OPINION

Some Responsibility On Government

A BETTER SYSTEM ADVOCATED [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.! WELLINGTON, December 8. “The Government realises that it has some responsibility in this matter, and it docs not intend to run away from Iho responsibility.” said the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) when speaking in the House of Representatives to-day during the discussion on the Auckland waterfront hold-up. The Prime Minister claimed that it was for the interested parlies to get together and devise,a bettor system, which would prevent such disturbances. “It is merely a question whether there is sufficient intelligence among the watersiders and members of Parliament to enable them to devise a better means of doing the job.” said Mr Savage, ‘‘and the Governmont is not sleeping on the job.” Mr W. J. Poison (National. Stratford): You have wakened up, then.

Mr Savage; The Government did not need waking up. It was awake before. But the lime may come, very soon, when the honourable gentleman will need waking up. Mr Poison: I do not know what the Prime Minister means by that; but if it is a threat, I am willing to meet him at any time. , . . . “The situation which developed at Auckland has shown us that there has to be a better method of doing the job.” Mr Savage said. “To blame the shipping companies or the watersiders is not to solve the problem. It is still there after that. I do not care whose fault it was. we have to clean the matter up. There should be intelligence enough among those interested to see that the job is done belter in future. We realise that wo have some responsibility. and we are not going to run away from it; but I certainly feel that this afternoon's business in the House has been mainly for political reasons.” The importance of harmony on the waterfront and the necessity for better relations between employers and labour in that sphere were also emphasised by the Minister for Finance (the Hon. W. Nash). “It will be necessary to i'md some bettor .system of making arrangements between _waterside workers and shippers in this country.’' Mr Nash said. “Hold-ups such as that at Auckland affect not only the immediate shipment of our primary produce concerned, but the whole season's exports, and prevent that regulation of shipments which is nceessary to successful marketing. H I, waterside workers do not work as they should we, as the Government, cannot gel the results we want for primary producers. This is not a matter merely for the Government or the Opposition, and I think there is ju»tilicalion for some inquiry being held it we can avoid these stoppages. “UNCROWNED KING OF NEW ZEALAND” MU BODKIN’S DESCRIPTION OF MU .1. ROBERTS [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, December 0. Mr James Roberts, president of the Federation of Labour and secretary of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union, was described as “the uncrowned king of New Zealand” in the House of Representatives to-day, during the discussion of the Auckland waterfront hold-up. Mr W. A. Bodkin (National. Central Otago) complained that the waterside union was endeavouring to influence the Government. He said a big, powerful union concerned in the hold-up was out to try almost to demand moral support from the Government. This union had been steadily endeavouring to get itself in a position of authority when, at any time, it could seize the community by the throat and paralyse the country. The position could not be allowed to rest where it was. The economic life of the community demanded that the situation should L cleared up in such a way that it c- 10 not possibly arise in the future. "This union, because of its strong* ', and of the strategic position it occupies, believes that it is almost in a position to dictate terms to the Government,” Mr Bodkin said. “Mr James Roberts is a man who believes in direct action, and is the uncrowned king of New Zealand to-day.” Mr Speaker: Order! The honourable gentleman must come back to the motion.

Mr Bodkin: Perhaps I should describe him as the king-maker.