BRAKES ON INDUSTRY.

Evening Star, Issue 23124, 25 November 1938, Page 8

BRAKES ON INDUSTRY.

Ma Savage has been speaking some home-truths to official Labour. There was a distinct call for his comments, for the signs of industrial unrest that have been manifested lately must bo embarrassing to the Government. If good wages, reasonable hours, fair conditions generally, and the protection of the Arbitration Court will not please the workers of the Dominion it is reasonable to ask what will satisfy them. The Prime Minister wants to see production increased. Yet right at the very foundation a drag on industry, caused by frequent stoppages of work, with heavy losses to the whole community, is apparent. Mr Savage, in speaking in Wellington to the quarterly meeting of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, said that if the workers were going to begin by simply voting for Labour candidates and then holding up the work of the country. Ministers would not bo able to “ get anywhere.” The Prime Minister went on to stress what should be obvious to everyone, and that is that wealth could not be produced simply by “ turning a handle and printing money.” Unfortunately a section of the community does seem to have that false idea in their minds, and it may prove more embarrassing to the Government than any criticism it is likely to get from those who see the risks inherent in the Cabinet’s policy. The development of secondary industries, so that more labour may be employed, is the avowed aim of the Government. This clearly will be impossible if the workers themselves are going to refuse their co-operation. Industry is suffering from serious handicaps now as a result of heavy taxation, high production costs generally, and competition by goods from overseas, and if sections of Labour intend to indulge in pin-pricking tactics, and to lay down their tools when everything does not go their way, the outlook will be very discoui’aging. Mr Savage says the Government has got to seo that its efforts to promote industrial expansion are not “ sabotaged by the importation of goods from cheap labour countries.” To this end ho suggests a publicity campaign to move public opinion. It is to be feared that this would not be very effective. The Prime Minister’s influence in the country is admittedly strong, but the urge that makes most people buy in the cheapest market would undoubtedly govern the position. Following Mr Savage’s address, the National Labour Council pledged the whole-hearted co-operation of the Federation in carrying on the administration of the country. Perhaps, having this assurance, Ministers will now take firm measures to prevent spanners being thrown into the wheels of industry. The New Zealand Primary and Ancillary Industries Producers’ Council has urged that the position on the waterfront calls for immediate attention, declaring further that the frequent stoppage of work and the heavy losses entailed, not only to primary producers, but to the whole country, could be no longer ignored or countenanced. The council called upon the Government to appoint a Royal Commission to investigate the matter. Perhaps that will be no longer necessary, for the combined influence of tjie Government and the Federation of Labour should be sufficient to prevent a recurrence of these exasperating hold-ups. There is no justification whatever for industrial strife to-day. Ample machinery is provided for the settlement of any disputed points that may arise in the interpretation of Arbitration Court awards.