A TIME FOR SACRIFICE.

Evening Star, Issue 24079, 27 December 1941, Page 6

A TIME FOR SACRIFICE.

From Washington comes the news that at a, conference of representatives of workers and employers in the United States it was agreed to forgo strikes and lockouts for the duration of the war, and. a special board, with President’ Roosevelt’s approval, is to be set up to deal with differences that may arise. Tho people of America realise the magnitude of the issues with which they are confronted and tho imminent peril of their position. It cannot be disputed that the dangers to New Zealand are much greater, yet under a Government that lacks the courage to deal with the matter firmly strikes and stoppages of work are of constant occurrence. The fault lies largely witli the Minister of Labour and Mines, and it is high time that a reshuffle of the Cabinet occurred and a man of greater influence was put in charge of these departments. Mr Webb’s handling of various industrial disputes that have arisen lias caused much dissatisfaction throughout the country. Remarks made at New Brighton yesterday by tho Minister of Supply accentuate the weakness of the Government's position. " Our situation is grave, very grave indeed, for our country,” he said, “ and we do not know when the blow will fall.” Then Mr Sullivan went on to exhort the people to be ready to make sacrifices, referring among other things to holidays, pointing out that production at the peak of our capacity was essential.

The Prime Minister has repeatedly stressed the importance of this matter, and has urged willing co-operation from all sections of the community. Yet no dairy produce was handled at the King’s wharf cool stores at Auckland yesterday, as none of the 150 chamber hands usually employed there reported for wbrk. They had a grievance. Double time would have been received by them, but they protested against this rate when the waterside workers were privileged to receive the full

special holiday pay of 7/- an hour plus 5 per cent. The sense of injustice felt can be appreciated, for that is the real ground of the complaint of the chamber hands, rather than a demand for more money. The waterside workers appear to bo a privileged community, but at tho same time the attitude of the chamber hands cannot be condoned, having regard to the great crisis in which this country is involved. There have been numerous stoppages of work in the coal industry since the war started, and at the moment, according to the Minister of Mines, there is a heavy shortage in the coal supplies, yet notwithstanding Mr Webb’s appeal some of tho miners in the north are taking holidays extending from December .19 to January o. New Zealand’s soldiers are risking their lives and making financial sacrifices and many members of the National Deserve are giving their services cheerfully at a serious monetary loss. Surely in the essential industries mentioned the workers should at least be prepared to carry on their work without further vexatious delays. If there is continued failure in this respect tho onus is on the Government to take prompt action. Ministers have been far too complacent and lenient in the past. Strikes may happen in Now Zealand, but it is a long time since any have occurred in Britain, and we have never heard of them in Russia.