LABOUR'S POLICY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22515, 4 September 1936, Page 12

LABOUR'S POLICY

UNION'S CRITICISM FULFILMENT OF PROMISES SOME MADE IMPOSSIBLE AUCKLAND LABOURERS' VIEW Members of the Auckland Builders' General and Other Labourers' Union decided on Wednesday night to bring before the notice of tho Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, what they believed to be several conflicting elements in recent legislation, which, they claimed, made it impossible for the Government to fulfil many of tho Labour Party's promises. A resolution passed included the statement that some of tho 1931 standards wore nullified. The text of the resolution was as follows: —"This union desires to draw the attention of the Prime Minister to certain portions of recent legislation which make impossible of fulfilment many of Labour's promises, and requests that consideration be given with a view'to removing anomalies. Jn union circles it has been generally understood that the 19-31 industrial standards would now be re-established, resulting in the abolition of a good deal of youth exploitation and consequent displacement of adult workers. "As far as this union is concerned the recent Finance Act appears to legalise the retention df this bad policy, for it says that if any alteration in the classification of workers has taken place since 1931. it shall not be interfered with. Hence, while 1931 agreements prevent exploitation of youth, it crept in afterwards, and is thus to be maintained, thereby in a measure nullifying 1931 standards."