LABOUR DISPUTES IN N.Z.

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25548, 16 July 1948, Page 6

LABOUR DISPUTES IN N.Z.

SPEECH BY MR J. N. MASSEY INTERJECTIONS ABOUT HIS FATHER (PA.) WELLINGTON, July 15. “What about 1913” and “Massey speaks again” were Labour interjections during a reference to labour trpubles by Mr J. N. Massey (Opposition, Franfclin) in the House of Repre-. senatives to-day. Mr Massey is a son of Mr W. F. Massey, who was Prime Minister at the time of the waterfront strike in 1913. Mr Massey said that in 1935 there were in New Zealand 12 disputes involving 2323 workers and the loss of 18,563 working days. In 1947 there were 133 disputes, affecting 22,070 workers with a total loss of 78,835 working days. No complete figures could be given for 1948, but some taken at random showed that the Mangakino dispute involved 880 men for 22 days, giving a total loss of 19,360 days. The Runanga mines dispute involved 555 men for 20 days with the loss of 11,000 days, and in the Mountpark dispute 1000 men had been off work with a total loss of 16,000 working days. Mr Massey said the disputes on the Auckland waterfront were caused by the preaching of Communist and Socialist philosophy among the workers there. Britain was more or less on the bread line, imploring New Zealand to send more food, yet, because of holdups, New Zealand could not ship what was available. Mr Massey said the Minister of Labour, who had in the past preached the philosophy of Communism, to-day said Mr Barnes was a Communist and while these two strong characters were fighting for political control the whole of the country’s activities were subject to interference. Had the National Party been in office the Mountpark dispute would not have arisen or, if it had, it would have been settled weeks ago. The Minister of Health (Miss M. B. Howard): What about 1913? Another Government member: Massey speaks again. Mr Massey: I am proud to bear that name. Mr Massey said people knew when his father was in charge of the country’s administration that law and order would be upheld but to-day the Government appeared incapable of enforcing the law. ♦