Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE MONDAY, November 14th., 1938. "KILLING THE GOOSE."

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 November 1938, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE MONDAY, November 14th., 1938. "KILLING THE GOOSE."

F°B a Ministry that won so clear a victory at last month’s elections, Labour is facing unusual troubles. Rumours are many that serious dissensions exist in the Party camp, and Mr. Savage has found it necessary to deny that he contemplates early resignation. The Prime Minister and his supporters have a just grievance against some of the militant trade unions, who are creating serious industrial unrest, at the time when the state of the national finances demand that the most be made of the resources, and that losses and waste be kept at a minimum. There is little public sympathy with most of those refusing to work unless their demands are granted, and the Labour Minis-

ters are censuring the men, so far as they dare.y

Waterside disputes have occupied attention during the last ten days, the stoppage at Auckland proving costly. The issue involved appears, from telegraphed reports, to have been comparatively small, and certainly, nothing justifying the holding up of the port, whoever was responsible. Delays to overseas vessels, owing to the inability to load and unload, mean that the employers, and after them, the general community, have to pay a high price for the watersiders’ holiday. It, is stated that the men boast that they win whatever happens. The wages “lost” during the idleness, are believed to be made up by subsequent “overtime.” Well may the Minister for Labour (Mr. Armstrong) and Mr. Savage declare that, this sort of tiling must not continue. It is good that the Labour Government is recognising its duty to the community, which should support the Ministers in any action they take to bring about a better state of affairs.

Auckland is not the only port at which losses have been incurred through waterside vagaries. More is heard of stoppages at the chief centres. At Greymouth, it is announced, to-day, that owing to the costly delays in loading coal on

the Cap Tarifa, Westport will secure future business that would otherwise have come to Greymouth. Without begrudging Westport any harvest its “better equipment” and more reliable methods may obtain, it is to be regretted that Greymouth should lessen its own prosperity. This policy of discrimination against ports where

cargo operations are made unduly expensive, may develop. Repeated warnings have been given by shipping companies about the high cost of business at New Zealand ports, compared with those elsewhere. A day may come, unless wiser standards prevail on the Dominion’s waterfronts, when ships be driven from New Zealand trade owing to the high cost of Tierations.

Government intervention is threatened, but the shipping and waterside industries are better run by private enterprise. State shipping has been a failure whereever tried, and any who favour nationalisation of all means of transport, should reflect on the important part that outside companies play where New Zealand shipping services are concerned. It would be impossible to “control” these organisations, and an attempt at “nationalisation” would create great difficulties. Mr. Armstrong suggests that an inquiry is desirable,' but what the waterside industry really needs is more goodwill and greater sense of responsibility. If the men have legitimate grievances they should continue to work, whilst the Disputes Committee is adjudicating. Conditions on the waterfront have been immensely improved. It is not too much to ask the men to reciprocate.