TRADE UNIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 107, 2 November 1938, Page 10

TRADE UNIONS

MINISTER'S WARNING

"WILL NOT BE BLUFFED"

LABOUR'S TASK

"I tell those individuals and organisations who think they are going to bluff and stampede the Government by putting a pistol at our heads, and striking without any reasonable provocation, that they are not going to do it. We are not going to govern this country to please any group. We are going to satisfy the great bulk of the people who put us there, and we are not going to be bulldozed, hamstrung, side-stepped, or jostled by anybody, or any group of individuals." This declaration, directed at organisations, trade unionists, and working men generally, was made by the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) in an address to railway construction workers at Oaro yesterday, states today's "Press," Christchurch. His warning, he emphasised,, was a clarion call to "those who may think they can play the, fooL" and he added: "Well. They are not going to play the fool with us. Now then."

The election was described by Mr. Semple as being the dirtiest he had participated in. The forces of reaction were better organised than ever before, and they had every paper in the Dominion and all the wealth to fight with. In lying Tom Pepper was not. in it. He was sure that when some of the reactionaries died, Tom Pepper would get kicked out. -

"However, we won the battle, and a job is ahead of us. We realise the magnitude of the task that has been set us by the people of this Dominion, we are conscious of the responsibility associated with the job we have in hand, and we are not unmindful of the fact that we have some big problems that we know of, and many unforeseen ones as we travel along the road towards brighter and happier life " "TORYISM FINISHED." Toryism was finished in New Zealand. The people had adopted a hew political philosophy, and had cast off for ever the old worn-out ideas that fitted into past times, and saw the dawn of a -new day. They realised that they were living in a new world. Although far from the nerve centres pf the world, New Zealand had a grave responsibility, as anything it might do to benefit the great mass of the people would have a great psychological effect on the minds of other people. "If we are to demonstrate to the rest of the world that people in little New Zealand are entitled to, and will receive, their legitimate share of the wealth created by their skill, hands, brains, and sweat, we have to keep our feet on the earth. We have not to be run off the road we have commenced to travel from imaginary influences. We have not to be" mentally intoxicated as a result of this victory; but we have to keep our eyes always towards the goal, our backs to the wall, and march step by step, doing things cautiously, wisely, and well, to make this Dominion the beacon light of civilisation. That must be done, and it can be done. The only people who can defeat us are ourselves, the labour movement. The Tories cannot defeat us any more. They are gone. Toryism will be as dead in New Zealand as a moa after the next three years." The Government drew its strength and energy from the great "mass of the people, and so long as working men did nothing stupid it would reach its goal. The Government had to play the game from the people's point of view, and the people had likewise to play the game with the Government, and see that they did not in any way embarrass it, or ask it to do things which were unreasonable and unjust. -= "CANNOT TAKE RISKS." "We cannot afford to take risks in this country," said Mr. Semple. "We have to be cautious in everything we do. You "cannot transform society from one stage to another in six hours, or something will break. You can do things only according to the will and wish of the great majority of the people. We are the custodians of the country's purse, and we have to watch diligently every expenditure of public! money, because, after all, the nation's i income has»its limits. I want you to understand that."

The nation's income was- drawn from the capacity to produce its needs, plus its sales on the world's markets. \ A responsibility rested, on the shoulders of every man and woman physically fit to toil to contribute his and her full quota to that wealth. The man or who would not play the game or refused to render service were looking for something for nothing. They became parasitical, and of no value to the progress and development of the country. The Government would do the job as it should be done, and bring a measure of security.

Toryism, unbridled exploitation, and foul usury were finished for ever in this country. If individuals attempted to embarrass the rest of the people, to put a spanner in the wheel, or to stop the Government from carrying out the mandate given it, their actions would not be tolerated for five minutes.

"I know the other side are looking forward with hope and expectation to our getting trouble within our own ranks, and that industrial organisations will run amuck, and ask for ridiculous things from the Government, and that we will crash within twelve months. If the trade unions ask for anything foolish or unreasonable they will be fighting their friends, and playing into the hands of their enemies who send them to soup kitchens and clothes drives. We are not going to have it."

A bogy was created ■ during the election by a lot of talk of the left wing jostling the Government. There was no left wing as far as he knew, and if any wing developed to embarrass the Government it would be dealt with in due course. No room was to be found in any sane organisation for left or right wings. What Labour wanted was a solid Government, doing a solid job for the benefit of the wealth-producing people of the country.