ORGANISING INDUSTRIES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 179, 18 April 1918, Page 5

ORGANISING INDUSTRIES

4 MINISTER'S REPLY TO LABOUR ' UNIONS' PROTESTS. -i In reply to telegrams received from i labour unions in various parts of the \ country, Sir Joseph Ward has replied as follows:—"In iep]y to your telegram j of yesterday, I think you are mistaken in the conclusion you havo arrived at • regarding clause in tho Finance Bill, I and I would suggest that you wait until | you see the discussion fully reported in Hansard upon it. The clause, is one Intended for organisation of all classes not of labour alone, and there is no intention on the part of the Government to utilise labour for privato gain. It is \ impossible for any one to fay what tho :• necessities of the country may require in ' regard to utilisation of non-essential ■■ businesses and industries owing to pos- I sible further prolongation of the war, and the proposal is as much in the in- ' terost of and necessary for Labour as for any other class in the country. Tho regulations which the Bill provides for, . ! and which are to be laid upon the table ~; of the House of Parliament, will bo ■ drawn up after a conference with various industries, including those of La- i bonr. and I can only give you my as- ! suranco (hat if there had been any in- ! tention to injure Labour I should havo been strongly against the. proposal, as i I fully Tecognise that in the crisis ; through which this country, together , with other parts of (he Empire, is pass- j ing it is essential to have (he goodwill } of the workers and their co-operation in j active sympathy with the Government in i any system of organisation that may be j found necessary to msuro the preserre< j (ion of the country." : '