THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, November 4, 1938. INDUSTRIAL UNREST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23648, 4 November 1938, Page 10

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, November 4, 1938. INDUSTRIAL UNREST

The fact that there has been widespread industrial unrest in the Dominion since the confirmation of the Government in office may have no special significance. The general public may, however, be inclined — pardonably, in the circumstances—to regard the extraordinary recurrence of industrial trouble in the past three weeks or so with suspicion, as pointing to an assumption on the part of organised unionism that it may rely on the support which it gave to the Government as a means towards the satisfaction of its claims. The Government is more likely to be seriously embarrassed than otherwise by the efforts of certain groups of union-controlled labour to secure conditions of employment to their liking regardless, it would seem in some cases, of any statutory obligation to await and abide by the arbitrament of the Court of Arbitration. The position since October 18, three days after the Government’s restoration to power, may be briefly reviewed. On that date a large body of chemical workers in the Auckland district struck as a protest against the terms of an award of the court published that morning, lybrk was resumed on the following day, when it was arranged, on the initiative of the Minister of Labour, that officers of his department should meet the employers and endeavour to arrange a settlement, with an outcome which has not been publicly disclosed. On October 26 loading operations at the port of New Plymouth were seriously interfered with as the result of a decision by some 70 men to stop work, allegedly on account of a dispute concerning rates of pay for carpenters temporarily employed on ship-board. A few days later an even graver interruption of loading operations occurred in Wellington, when the men ceased work during an afternoon for the purpose of attending the funeral of one of their number who had been the victim of a waterside accident, the consequence being that the departure of important overseas vessels was delayed To-day waterside trouble is reported from Auckland, where two vessels have been delayed owing to a disagreement on the terms affecting the engagement of labour. On October 27 there was the threat of a strike, originating in Auckland, of members of the Drivers’ Union, fault being found with a delay in the issue of a new award by the Arbitration Court. For this circumstance the employers were able to show positively they were in no way responsible, the position being that the men had been offered in April last* and had then refused, an increase in pay to which they argued they were entitled. And now that the award has been issued the threat of a strike is renewed. On October 30 the Wellington tramwaymen sought to precipitate a dispute concerning rates of pay provided for in a recently-declared award of the court, and the matter was finally referred to the Wellington Trades Council to act with the union’s assessors in an effort to reach a settlement with the City Council. In the past two days, the Auckland glassworkers, linesmen employed by the Auckland Electric Power Board, and a body of 1600 employees at the Otahuhu railway workshops all resorted to direct action to secure redress of alleged grievances. The linesmen’s dispute was promptly settled; the glassworkers’ strike, which is the outcome, apparently of delay in arbitration proceedings and is very seriously embarrassing the industry, in view of the press of orders received in anticipation of Christmas trading, is the subject of negotiation; and the workshops dispute has taken a definitely disturbing turn by reason of the flat refusal of the men to accept the ultimatum of the Minister of Railways that negotiations could not be begun until they had returned to work. The Government, in this case, has taken the only action possible. Indeed it has resolved upon a course that might properly have been followed in some of the earlier cases mentioned by us. Firmness on the Government’s part will command public respect, whereas weakness will'add to whatever reason may exist already for fear on the public’s part that the Administration is disinclined to assume the role of master in a sphere where its authority should be unchallengeable. The situation, as it appears to resolve itself, is that the Government is faced with the definite threat of increasing industrial disorder, and the country will not be reassured until it shows its hand uncompromisingly for the maintenance of industrial relations without prejudice to the interests of any section of the people. A point of importance that seems to obtrude itself into any consideration of the causes of industrial disturbance concerns the position of the Arbitration Courts in relation to the volume of work awaiting their attention. It is apparent that delays in the issuing of awards are a fruitful cause of friction. Although it. lias been stated that arrears of work have largely been overtaken, it is also reported that the work in prospect would be sufficient to keep both courts occupied for months to come. In the circumstances the decision recently announced by the Minister of Labour, that the Second Court will cease to function on November 22, seems to require further explanation. If it is true that a heavy list of applications exists for hearings in many categories, and if it is to be accepted as having been demonstrated that the prompt despatch of the court’s business is an

aid to the preservation of industrial peace, it would seem that the decision to terminate the existence of the Second Court has been premature.