GOVERNMENT ATTITUDE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19809, 2 December 1927, Page 11

GOVERNMENT ATTITUDE.

INTERVENTION UNLIKELY. STORMY SCENE IN HOUSE. LONG AND HEATED WRANGLE. LABOUR MEMBER SUSPENDED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. , (Received December 1. 11.15 p.m.) A. and N.Z. CANBERRA. Dec 1. In the House of Representatives to-day th& Prime Minister, Mr. S. M. Bruce, moved the suspension of Standing Orders to discuss the waterside trouble. The motion set out that: "In view of the serious unemployment and general distress which will result from the dispute, the House pledges itself to support the Government in taking any steps it deems necessary in conjunction with Governments of States as far as possible, to maintain law and order and to ensure the continuance of service necessary to the whole Commonwealth."

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. M. Charlton, raised a protest, and a long and heated wrangle followed. The Government was charged with attempting to get despotic legislation to deal with an industrial trouble, which it had failed to get before. This reference was to the previous trouble when an attempt was made to secure power to deport the seamen's leaders, Walsh and Johnson.. An incessant uproar resulted in the suspension .of* Mr, A. Blakeley, Labour member for Darling, on tho motion of Mr. Bruce. Intervention in the strike by the Federal Government is unlikely, as Ministers are taking the view that the Arbitration Court has powsr to compel the parties to the dispute to appear before it, and that,, generally, the authority of the Court is sufficient to enable it to deal with the matter. In speaking to the resolution Mr. Bruce said the Government would be justified in interfering in the dispute where one of the parties was acting in flagrant contempt of the award which it had received. The shipping services had to be maintained and the Government would take action to see that they were; also to see that those who carried on the services wdtald receive adequate protection. In an extreme case the Government would issue a proclamation under the Crimes Act. Mr. Charlton moved an amendment to Mr. Bruce's resolution: "That the House is of opinion that consultations should be held immediately between the Government and the various State Governments affected, and tho organisations concerned, to come to some clear understanding of the matter at issue, and effect a settlement thereof by means of conference and conciliation." In the Senate a resolution similar fo that moved by Mr. Bruce was carried, in spito oi protests of the Labour members. OPINION IN BBITAIN. . VIEWS OF SHIPOWNERS. AWARDS SHOULD BE OBEYED. , (Received December 1. 5.21 p.m.; .A. and N.Z. LONDON, Nov. 30 A meeting of representative British shipowners and managers was held in London to consider the Australian waterside dispute. The conclusion was reached that the action of the waterside workers has resulted in a state of chaos which bears no relation to awards or orders of the Arbitration Court.

Those present at the meeting said they were only looking for the due recogni tion of awards. Such a matter as the refusal to load butter conveyed from Syd ney in an inter-State vessel on the ground that the men did not know whether or not it had been declared " black," was absolutely contrary to awards of the Court, hence they considered it was essential to notify the workers that all cargo at Australian ports must in future be worked in strict accordance with the terms ordered by the Court. MAIUJRA LEAVES SYDNEY. DEPARTURE FOR WELLINGTON (Received December 2, 12.15 a.m.) A. and N.Z. SYDNEY,. Dec 1. The Makura sailed for Wellington at 4 p.m. to-day. WOOL SALES POSTPONED. DECISION AT GEELGNG. A. and N.Z. MELBOURNE, Dec. 1. At the Geelong wool sales the buyers refused to operate owing to the waterside dispute, and the sales were postponed until the following day.