CONCENTRATED WAR EFFORT.

Evening Star, Issue 23620, 5 July 1940, Page 5

CONCENTRATED WAR EFFORT.

TO THE EDITOR, V Sir, —1 observe in the ‘Star’ of July 1 “ Working Man’s ” epistle regarding Government expenditure. I am not concerning myself with the latter part of his letter, but this continued talk in the papers concerning the expenditure on the late Mr Savage’s funeral should be stopped. Personally I think it was a fitting tribute to the man who did so much towards the making of New Zealand. I really hope that “ Working Man ” will try to respect the memory of those “ at rest.” —I am, etc., A.B.S.G. July 4. ‘ TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Can you tell me of any body of civilised men in the whole world who would deliberately block progress in war work by striking when their own country is fighting for life, fighting for civilisation, fighting for the very lives of these strikers. They never in their lives will be able to live down the reputation they are making for themselves just now. Men, women, and even children will remember, and their names should be carved on stone and placed in our Octagon, Not one should be forgotten; they will be unique.And what are they crying about? Because a man who was proved an enemy was dismissed. Would any sane employer in the world continue to pay ruinous wages to a worker who was only trying to injure the country? Not one of these shameless strikers would—if an employer—keep such a man for one day. Are all these strikers brainless? Or is it that their secretary is allowed to treat them as slaves, and therefore they dare not disobey him? No body of women would be so afraid to do the right thing, in spite of 20 union masters. 1 also blame the Government. The Premier boasts of being able to make laws to suit himself. Then why does he not make a law that will depose a union secretary on the day that a strike is declared, and break up any union in the country that agrees to strike during the war? Dispense with secretaries. It will be a very popular retrenchment. Break unions up, not all at once, hut just as soon as they strike. I am sure Mr Fraser could do this, and all the country would sing his praises. He need fear no secretary, nor yet any body of strikers, for he would gain far more votes than he would lose by showing .that he, was not led on a rope.—l am, etc., SriNJSLESS,

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —The War Emergency Regulations Bill is now law and gives the Government powers of . a very wide scope, and yet what do ye find? Just take this morning’s news. The watersiders in Auckland have refused to work after midnight to load produce badly wanted in Britain and produced by farmers working sometimes 50 or 60 hours a week. ..It is no use asking the farmers to produce more when actions by other sections of the community nullify and restrict all their good work. Then we have the strike in the State coal mines. Do the . war emergency regulations only apply to subversive statements and not to subversive actions ? What would have been the position to-day if those gallant lads who fought that magnificent rearguard action at Dunkirk for 2s a day of: 24 hours had taken time off for a stop-fight meeting? Until the Government learns the lesson which the fate of France has plainly shown, I am afraid we shall continue to be under the heel of the union bosses. As regards the 40-hour week, I heard a statement being made by a Minister in Parliament that extending the hours of work would not help' production. What a weak statement to make! Let our farmers apply the 40-hour week to their work and there would be no need for the waterside workers to work overtime; in fact, the Government would have to find work for them. I don’t want to be classed as a militant member of the community, but I would like to see the Government take some stronger measures to counteract the actions of some sections of the community in hampering this country’s war effort.—l am, etc., 9/1149. July 5 TO THE EDITOR Sir, —It is evident that the agitation to abolish the 40-hour week is hatched out from motives of greed on the part of those who pay wages, and not, as we are supposed to believe, from motives of patriotism. Every award I have seen allows men to work. Saturday and Sunday, provided they are paid, and only under very,extraordinary circumstances will men refuse to work at time and a-half or double rates. The kernel of the position is that an attempt is being made to force wageearners to work for ordinary rates on Saturday, instead, of overtime rates Inroads into wages have already 1 been made by the new taxation, and a further effort to reduce.wages on Saturdays is receiving undue publicity. When all available labour has been absorbed and there are no unemployed, and when coal miners are all working full time and there are no carpenters and labourers walking the streets, an argument for longer hours* might have some basis; but a plea for longer hours at lower wages, when we still have unemployed in the country, is quite ridiculous and can have no reasoned argument to support it.—l am, etc., Ken. W. Bbnnet. July 5.