LABOUR MATTERS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 141, 31 May 1911, Page 1

LABOUR MATTERS.

BRISBANE GaS STRIKE. [press association. —copyright]. (Received 31, 10.25 a.m.) Brisbane, May 31. The strike continues but a full supply of gas is maintained. Information re the proposed general strike is unobtainable. FURNITURE MAKERS’ REVOLT. AGAINST THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT. [per press association.] Wellington, May 30. Fuller details of yesterday’s skirmish between the Minister of Labour and the Furniture Makers’ Union are as follows:— Mr. Moriarty, speaking for a deputation from the latter, attacked the officers of the labour Department and demanded the right to have the eases heard in Wellington or to be allowed costs. Mr. Millar said he was prepared to carry out the Act, but not to let the unions do as they liked, and went on to say there has never been anything but justice given by the department. “I don’t care if the department is passed out altogether, and the Minister too.” Mr. Moriarty : It would be better.

The Minister : I am quite prepared to give it you. You leave it to the unionists in New Zealand. I am prepared to say that if the unionists say they don’t want the Labour Department I will bring in a bill to repeal the department. If the department is not doing its work to the satisfaction of the people of New Zealand it is no use. and the sooner the people say so the better it will be. I am prepared to leave the matter to the workers outside of the employers. If they say they don't want it. out it will go in one act, and you will have the administration of the Act in your own hands. As long as it is there I have to stand by my own officers, unless they are proved to be wrong. So far I have not seen it. If the next conference, carries a resolution asking for the abolition of the department I wdl be the man to bring down a bill for the repeal of the Act. Mr. Moriarty: You know well there is no fear of that. When our business was on the floor of the Ho use two leading secretaries of labour unions came to me and said. “You are an absolute fool to fight the Government; you have lost all chance of a Government position.” I said. “Is that wfliat you are looking for?” They said: “Yes: we are not going to bo union secretaries all our lives.” That, he added, was the fact of the matter. They were looking for Government, billets, and they wouldn’t speak out like men.