JOTTINGS FROM THE HOUSE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 195, 19 July 1939, Page 7

JOTTINGS FROM THE HOUSE

EASIER TO DEAL WITH. “So long as there is economic injustice there will be strikes, but this legislation will enable mo to deal with some of our industrial problems more easily than I can at the present time,” said the Alinister of Labour (Hon. P. C. Webb) when replying to the debate on the Arbitration Amendment Bill. The Alinister said the attitude of the members of the Opposition seemed to indicate that they regretted the improvements to the Act which would prevent strikes from taking place. Air S. G. Holland (Opposition, Christchurch North): That is not so, but will this stop them from striking?

The Minister: 1 did not suggest that, lint the Bill will enable some of Die problems to bo dealt with more easily. THE RIGHT TO STRIKE. Air Holland: Do you believe in tho right to strike? Air AA’ebb : A’cs, I certainly do. This does not take away the right to strike, hut if a union wants to strike if cannot have the protection of the Court as well. ADHERENCE TO PRINCIPLE. “This lias not departed from tile principle in the legislation 1 introduced,” declared Hon. TI. T. Armstrong, former Alinister of Labour. “The legislation of JOJC laid it down that it: would he compulsory to employ unionists provided that the law was observed, but it is ridiculous to continue the enforcement of compulsory unionism if sections are going to please themsolves whether they will abide by the law or not.” AII'LITANT UNIONS. “I do not wish to oppose the Bill in any way, hut the Alinister is going to moot with disappointment if he thinks that this is going to stop industrial trouble.” said Mr Holland. Alost- of the industrial troubles came from the militant unions, he said. COMMENTARY ON POLICY. AA’hile he believed in arbitration and unionism, the Bill was a commentary on the Government’s policy of compulsory unionism, which had led to whiteanting in some unions, said Hon. AlcLeod, in the Upper House. “The very hands which the Government has fed are now fighting it,” he said. IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE. “No Government which neglects agriculture or the primary industries of a country prospers for long.” said Mr. E. B. Gordon (Opposition, Rangitikei) in his maiden speech. Agriculfure, lie added, was the foundation of New Zealand’s national life.

PAYING THE PRICE.

“Cable news which has appeared in

tlii> Pros;; in the last J 8 hours iiulicatoo That difficulties of increased gravity are facing the Government to-day,” said Mr. \V. J. Poison (Opposition, Stratford). I'he Government, he added, had rushed headlong into reckless expenditure in bringing its untried theories into nraetiee. and the country was now paying for that policy. DECIDING FOP HIMSELF. ‘‘The dairy-Tanner,” said Mr. Poison. “has not icceived from the guaranteed price the relief he expected to get. and was entitled to get.” Government members: You won’t (Iron it. Mr. Poison: The farmer should he allowed to decide for himself, and that, I believe, is what he wants. OBJECTIVE NOT HIDDEN. The Government had no desire to hide its objective, said Mr. O. H. Chapman (Government. Wellington North). Several members of the Opposition had said that Socialism had nothing in common with patriotism. Christianity was in the same position as Socialism, and a SocalEt could he a good patriot just as a Christian could bo a good patriot.