Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 1939. LABOUR UNREST.

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 June 1939, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 1939. LABOUR UNREST.

I’N not a few occupations throughout New Zealand, during recent months, the “down tools” policy seems to have gained in popularity, with the result that too many sprags have been put into the industrial wheels. This is passing strange, when it is considered that a Labour Government rules' the country, and, consequently, that everything in the garden should be lovely for the working-men. Can it be that the latter, as a class, possess genuine grievances, or is it that they are expecting too much, even in what is sometimes claimed to be the workers’ paradise? An incident which occurred at Auckland, the other day, savoured of the farcical. and demonstrated that a regrettable feeling of unrest does exist. Because a man was dismissed for refusing to doff his coat, when ordered to do so by the foreman, 120 relief workers went on strike. It is said that the morning was cold, but many will wonder why the man concerned could not warm himself by working. It may be that the foreman’s action was not characterised by tact in its execution, but the refusal of relief (Workers on another job, to join in the strike, was significant, and seems to give weight to the

allegation of the foreman, made prior io the incident, that someone was “looking for trouble.”

A more-serious matter is the dispute which has developed in connection with the construction of State houses at Wellington. So far, approximately two hundred men, comprising several trades,, are involved, but there is more than a possibility of the| number growing. Ostensibly, the men ceased work for the Fletcher Construction Company, which holds the contract for the erection of the houses, as a result of the allegedly unsatisfactory working conditions. Actually, however, — and this is admitted by the secretary of the New Zealand Builders’ and General Labourers’ Federation, — it is just an accident that the dispute has come to a head on a State housing contract. Dissatisfaction with the terms of the Dominion awards recently issued for carpenters and labourers, by the Arbitration Court, is evidently the real cause of the decision to cease work. Tt is alleged that the awards have been issued against the weight of evidence given on behalf of the workers, and that the men have had what is referred to as a “rough deal.” Onlookers may be forgiven for asking why the unions went to the Court, if they were not prepared to honour its decisions?

It is doubtful whether any award ever made could give complete satisfaction, and there are many trades and occupations in the country in which the employees have been disappointed by their awards, but they make the best of the position, and do not resort to illegal stoppages. If the attitude adopted by the carpenters and their allies were universally followed, the result would be industrial chaos. It is claimed that the action taken is not intended to harass the Government in its housing policy, but nevertheless it is having just that effect, and the fact that a Dominion award is concerned involves the possibility of the trouble spreading to other parts of New Zealand. There is little room for doubt that the attitude adopted by the Government on the occasions of past hold-ups in the industrial world, has not gained for it any wholesome respect among the workers, and the time is fast approaching when a “show-down” must be called for. Meanwhile, it is regrettable that the alleged grievances of the New Zealand naval ratings should have been allowed to continue until the men have felt compelled to adopt direct action, to bring the matter

to a head. A little more promptitude by the Cabinet, in considering- the men’s claims, would probably have averted the present unfortunate development.