HANDLING OF STRIKES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 5 February 1944, Page 2

HANDLING OF STRIKES

FARMERS PROTEST TO GOVERNMENT Palmerston North, Feb. 3. The Manawatu provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union yesterday adopted the following resolution; “This meeting agrees that a strong protest be made to the Government on the indifferent manner in which it has handled strikes and unlawful hold-ups of essential production that have taken place recently, specially as machinery is available to settle all labour disputes by arbitration. We feel that the shortage of coal, the refusal of some transport drivers to work on Sundays, and absenteeism are unpardonable and should not be tolerated in any circumstances. It is our opinion that the Government should consider all disputes promptly and not wait till strikes take place and that all concessions to strikers and variations in awards should be published.” It was decided to send forward the resolution to the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser.

Mr D. F. Lynch, the mover, said the whole matter was leaving the country in a chaotic condition and legal means of meeting the troubles were not being properly used. All workers not satisfied with their conditions should be put in uniform and made to work under army conditions for army pay. Mr C. Webb declared that the statement of the Minister of Mines that coal production'-was up was in direct contradiction of the coal shortage. The chairman, Mr H. J. McLeavey, said he considered the workers were silly in that, though having their own Government in power, they were trying to persuade the people to vote against it. The more the workers got. the more they wanted.