PUBLIC SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 167, 11 April 1932, Page 10

PUBLIC SERVICE

Recent Co-operation With Industrial Unions POSITION EXPLAINED In view of the published criticism of those State service organisations which participated in the recent Industrial Conference,'a joint statement has been made on behalf of the Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association, the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, the Railway Tradesmen’s Association, and the Enginedrivers’ and Firemen’s Association. The statement reaffirms their opinion that the economic position of their members, and of the country generally, calls for the “getting together” and the utmost collaboration by all sections of the community, for mutual education, and the appreciation of each other’s viewpoint. This being so, the action of three of the organisations named in attending the Industrial Conference was, in the opinion of the four, not only warranted and desirable, but also justified m the fact that the outcome was the representation to the Prime Minister of constructive proposals to meet the economic dislocation of the country, and a common agreement to seek the cooperation of other section of the community particularly the farmers, in an attempt to stem the reactionary legislation of the 'Government. The four State service organisations under criticism, proceeds the statement, were the originators and promulgators of the proposals, which have come to be known as The Pub lie Service Proposals.” Not only did these proposals for currency, control and stabilisation of commodity price levels receive the endorsement and support of other State service organisations, but various organised sections of the farming and business community, augmented by indivi dua J s all walks of life, have offered cooperation and expressed themselves in favour of concerted action to ,’ nd « c ® the Government to grapple with the economic crisis at its source, and prevent the banking system assuming a monopoly over the volume of credits and consequently of money. It is pointed out to the public generally that the State service organisations have exhausted every constitutional means at their disposal to negotiate with the Government as the direct employer of the members whom they represent, says the joint state ment. Therefore, as a section of the people opposed to a policy.of deflation, which has created and extended unemployment, and forced a large percentage of businessmen and farmers into actual or potential bankruptcy, they have no other course open to them than to act on their status as responsible citizens, and co-ordinate effort with every other section which is prepared to fight fearlessly and constructively for the national welfare. In stating their position, the four organisations in question declare that they are i undismayed at threats and covert propaganda, or the timorous disclaimers of fair-weather confreres, but they invite any constructive criticism or i collaboration which coincides with their desires for national prosperity. They affirm that their objects were well served in conference with the 140 industrial unions, as they hope will be true also of future collaboration with farmers. They deplore all attempts to foster opinions that the supplanting of economic dislocation by conditions of industrial dislocation can help in the present grave crisis.