"CRITICS UNFAIR"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23995, 19 June 1941, Page 7

"CRITICS UNFAIR"

MINISTER'S COMPLAINT

HINDERING WAR EFFORT

NEED FOR CO-OPERATION

[BV TEIjKG 1! A I'd —PHKSS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Wednesday "Unfair, unreasonable and bitter criticism and misuse of bodies which claim to have no concern with politics for the dissemination of political propaganda are most seriously detracting from tli all-in effort New Zealand must make in the present time of grave international crisis," said the Hon. P. C. Webb, Minister of Labour, when addressing a conference of representatives of a wide field of business and cmploying interests at Parliament Buildings to-day. That bitterness, the Minister said, had increased in intensity during recent months, and if continued would del cut the one effort that must he made at the present. It. must give place to a spirit of goodwill and co-operation, based on discussion of all the facts and the understanding of all the facts. The bogey of the 10-hour week was raised, said Mr. Webb. It was a bogey, for there was no law prevent in;; 80 or even 1 Of) hours if necessary, but the law did say that il hours were over 40 the workers must ho paid overtime rates. The argument was not against the 40 hours, but against the overtime that had to ho paid. Mr. Gordon Kraser, president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, said that while it. was true some members of the main chambers had indulged in criiieism, it was not true that the chambers were used for political propaganda, and as far as the Associated Chambers wore concerned, they had resolutely set their minds against political propaganda. The Associated Chambers had said nothing about the 40-hour week, which issue was started by the counties, whose agitation had probably gained more notice than it warranted. Ho offered Mr. Webb and the Government all the co-operation and assistance of which the chambers were capable to further the war effort. The acting-Prime Minister, the Hon. W. Nash, said the question was what.

action would give the best results. Whatever that road was they should follow it. There was no need to argue about tho 40-hour week. The main argument was the rate of pay. If by working longer hours men could b© released for more important work an extension should be considered. He was certain that if those with antagonistic views could get together more often there would be better understanding and more goodwill in the community. "Wo can find a way to unity, but don't lot us force an issue that may create greater disunity," he said. Mr. Kraser suggested the setting up of a national committee to bring about greater unity. Mr. Webb said the suggestion was sound and that he would look into it, and if a committee could be set up to do tho job that would be done. INTERNAL STRIFE . "LUXURY OF PEACETIME" [bv TELEGRAPH riIKSS association] WELLINGTON, Wednesday The opinion that the war effort was being hindered and not helped by bickerings, olfensivos and counter-offensives that wore constantly going on between different sections of the community was expressed by the president of tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Mr. R. 11. Xi in mo, in a statement on the war effort and co-operation .'it a meeting of the council ol the chamber. Mr. Ninimo emphasised the necessity _ for rooting out emotions and prejudice from criticisms on economic subjects, and getting down to real facts before voicing criticism. "Wo are all wasting too much energy on chasing each other round the gorse bush instead of getting on with the job of rooting out the gorse," said Mr. Niinrno. "I am siding with no political party in this statement, nor am I interested in anything else than to see that this great little country rids itself of. internal strife, which is a luxury of peace, so as better to be able to screw itself up to its maximum war effort."