INDUSTRIAL UNREST

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25206, 10 June 1947, Page 8

INDUSTRIAL UNREST

PROBLEM NOT SOLVED REPORT TO LABOUR CONFERENCE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 9. “We have not been able to solve the problem of industrial unrest and industrial disputes, which may have the effect of destroying all that has been accomplished,” said Mr James Roberts in his presidential address to the New Zealand Labour Party’s conference to-day. Mr Roberts criticised the daily newspapers for the space given to what he described as minor disputes. but contended that this country had had fewer stoppages and less industrial trouble during and since the war than any other country. The Labour movement in New Zealand, he said, had a very definite responsibility on this question. “If we want peace abroad,” said Mr Roberts, ‘‘our first job is to establish harmony at home, and there is no logical reason why this cannot be accomplished. If we can demonstrate that we can have peace and harmony, full employment and high living standards in New Zealand, and that the Labour Government has brought this into being, we can offer the real basis for internal harmony and international peace. “While questions affecting industrial matters are the functions of the Federation of Labour, the fact remains that we are, w’illy nilly, involved when industrial disputes of any magnitude take place.” Settlement of Disputes

After saying that the Government had by its administration overcome many economic problems, and had given to the people the highest living standards in the world. Mr Roberts commented that the problem of industrial unrest and disputes had not been solved. He said: “Cannot this conference be a meeting house where •we can consider this question calmly, and apply our intelligence, so that a common problem can be solved in a commonsense manner? Can we establish an organisation or method by which any real grievances which may exist can be adjusted without recourse to lock-outs or strikes? The Government has already provided means by which most industrial disputes can be adjusted, and to the ordinary person it would appear that the commonsense thing to do would be to utilise those avenues, for experience has been that even when direct action is taken negotiations between employers and workers must take place before a dispute is settled.” Dealing with international politics Mr Roberts said it was not right that the conditions and methods by which world peace should be established should be decided by three or four nations. Smaller nations were entitled to a voice and a vote on important international questions, and there •were few who now disagreed with Mr Fraser’s commonsense proposals. The national executive’s report to the conference, paying a tribute to the Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser) said New Zealand was one of the world’s most fortunate countries in its leadership. The Prime Minister had again earned the gratitude of the whole movement for his admirable work during the past year. Besides conducting a splendid election campaign he had had a strenuous year in directing the work of the country.