CO-OPERATION WANTED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23702, 9 January 1939, Page 8

CO-OPERATION WANTED

PRACTICAL LEGISLATION CREATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS ADDRESS BY MINISTER OF LABOUR The desirability of creating councils in which representatives of trades organisations and employers could discuss problems and make suggestions for the improvement of industry and the benefit of all sections of the community was emphasised by the Minister of Labour (Mr P. C. Webb) at a hastily convened meeting held in the Ministerial Rooms of the Chief Post Office on Saturday morning. The meeting, the first of its kind to be held in New Zealand, was attended by officials of the Labour Department, employers’ representatives, and P. Neilson, M.P. The Minister stated that with the co-operation and support of workers and employers a council could

be formed in each centre in New Zealand for the purpose of framing indirect legislation to assist the Government in its administration. In this way legislation would be submitted to all organisations and industries long before it came before the House in the form of a Bill. “ From such co-operation,” the Minister continued, “ I believe we can get more practical legislation for everyone and give satisfaction to everybody. I propose to bring amendments to the Mining and Coal Mining Acts, and I would like you to study them. With suggestions from every angle we can build a Bill on the information received in tangible form, and when it goes before the House there should be no criticism. “ Finest In World ”

The petroleum legislation was a more ticklish subject, the Minister continued. It was intended to give private enterprise every scope; but the right of ownership to the Crown would be reserved. So long as the cardinal principle of the legislation was not altered, he would be prepared to amend the Bill from A to Z. “ Our petroleum legislation is considered the finest in the world,” the Minister said, “and we have a wonderful country which should rise to even greater prosperity than that which we enjoy at present. With the election over we should forget our squabbles and get down to fundamentals. “ I do know that some of the officers in the Labour Department throw their weight round too much at times,” the Minister continued, “ but there is no need for this at all. What we want is the maximum amount of harmony and the minimum number of convictions. There are many irritating problems that crop up at various times, but there should be no need for friction. We want efficiency, co-operation and harmony to deal with the practical matters that we have to face." “ No Lead Swinging ” Referring to the question of labour the Minister said that no consideration would be given to the man who “ swung the lead.” The Government was prepared to assist the man who was physically unfit, but “ lead swingers ” would have to paddle their own canoe. By transferring men back to seasonal work the Government would try to organise labour where it was needed. Employers should realise, the Minister added, that they were responsible for some of the pin-pricking troubles which arose between themselves and employees. In the field of industry and commerce these upsets were a hindrance to progress, and he would like the Employers’ Association and the Chamber of Commerce to pass on the spirit of goodwill and The unions were expected to discipline members, and in this way they would get a fair spin. “But I am not going to tolerate any lead-swiner-ing,” the Minister remarked. “ When we pay good wages we expect good results in return. I want all departments to meet occasionally and send on to me suggestions for greater efficiency. I want inspirations and cooperation to come from the industries so that better results can be obtained.

“Work To Live”

“ My idea is to get all the people together to co-operate with local members of Parliament in the hope of evolving an organisation throughout New Zealand where matters can be discussed in a cool, calm, and deliberate way,” Mr Webb said. “To have a council established in each centre to discuss all aspects of co-operation should do much for the greater stability of the country, and help to bring down legislation for the success and general well-being of the people of the Dominion. “After all, we want to work to live, not live to work.”

Several speakers expressed their enthusiastic approval of the proposal as outlined bv the Minister, and, although no official agreement was reached, it was decided to take the initial steps for the formation of a council.