DISCUSSION IN ASSEMBLY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 4 March 1914, Page 5

DISCUSSION IN ASSEMBLY

MR WADE'S STRICTURE. MR HOLMAN IN REPLY. GOVERNMENT WILL UPHOLD THE ACT. PROTECTION FOR EMPLOYERS' ! MEN PROMISED. (Received 9.30 a.rr-.) SYDNEY, This Day. In th© Assembly, Mr Wade, Leader of the Opposition, made a strong appeal; to the Government- to uphold the Arbitration Act, even to the point of prosecuting strikers vrho were flouting the law. It was the Ministry's duty_ to see that the food supply was maintained in the public interest. The result of the Ministry's inaction and the hollow cry of nationalisation was encouraging 'the men to break the law, and then when the employers were helpless they wculd be told that their businesses would be seized, thus going back old bushranging days. Mr Holman, replying, said the Government had sworn to uphold the law, and if need arose they would do_ it. Happily no such question liad yet arisen and he did not anticipate that it would arise. Up to yesterday the Government had fair gro'und for believing that a settlement would be reached. Apparently to-day they were confronted with the necessity of doing something to restore the supply. Meat was .an absolutely necessary commodity. If necessary, they will face the position immediately, and take whatever steps are necessary in the supreme interests of 'the community. If information regarding breaches of the law were forthcoming, prosecutions would follow. If the masters got men the Government would protect them. GOVERNMENT'S TR.UMP CARD (Rec. 10.10 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Da /. The "Herald" states that it has ascertained unofficially that the Government's trump card, in the event of the strike continuing, is to engage in a modified form of nationalisation, not to nationalise the whole industry, but to provide killers and killing, facilities and sale depots for those- prepared to undertake the sole distribution of meat. CRISIS THOUSANDS OF MEN IDLE. (Rec. 10.10 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day It .is recognised by employers in the .meat- and iron trades that n living i' e ~ solved against resumption excoptmg unconditionally, that 4 a. crisis reached. Government action ; s imperative. . Some 8500 men are idle in the iron trade. ■'. , . A mass -meeting of meat industry ployees decided to continue the strike on the present lines. _ In the address in reply m the Assembly, after Mr Wade attacked tlie_ (government policy, Mr Holman replied, and the debate wae adjourned.