N.Z. the “Industrial Paradise of the World”

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 280, 27 November 1939, Page 8

N.Z. the “Industrial Paradise of the World”

(By Telegraph—Press Association) AUCKLAND. Nov. 25. “I feel confident that in spite of the pessimism prevailing in certain quarters the Dominion will pull through with flying colours and be able proudly to boast of being the industrial paradise of the world,” said Mr P. C. Webb, Minister of Labour, when referring to statements made by him at a meeting of trade unionists in Hamilton last night. The Minister said he was reported to have said in reply to a question that if Hamilton business people closed their shops on the afternoon of December 4 to enable employees to attend a meeting of protest against the import restrictions, they would have no cause to grumble if someone else opened a shop and served people. That statement was not correct. It was stated at the meeting that a number of employers were threatening their employees with dismissal as a result of the import control legislation and that they proposed to close all businesses after Christmas for a considerable time. His reply was that he could not believe such a statement to be true, because that would be virtually declaring a strike on the public. He realised that many business had difficulties and so had the country, but he had said that if such a course were pursued, shopkeepers could not complain if other arrangements were made by which supplies needed by the public would be made available.

The Government would negotiate in a most friendly spirit. He appealed to employees and business people in Hamilton not to allow heat and bad feeling to be engendered which might take long years to eradicate.