MINISTER'S APPEAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24297, 14 May 1940, Page 6

MINISTER'S APPEAL

employers and workers co-operation in war effort comment on recent, stoppages' An appeal to workers and employers for full co-operation in maintaining supplies for the armed forces and in giving full assistance to the people o£ this country, of Great Britain and of other countries where the need is urgent, is made by the Minister of Labour (Mr P. C. Webb) in a circular to all industrial organisations. The Minister also emphasises the need to avoid disruption or stoppage of work. The circular states that employers and workers have .to share the responsibility of ensuring the full output of industry in the national war effort. Every effort should be made to avoid disruption of work, the circular states, and there is ample machinery to deal with disputes without dislocation of work. "A review of stoppages of work that have occurred during recent years discloses that a majority of the disputes might easily have been settled, and without any dislocation of industry," the circular adds. "It should not be necessary during these times to invoke any of the r>enal provisions prescribed under the Emergency Regulations,Act or under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. "With more forbearance and a full realisation of the serious consequences of any stoppage of work, I fell sure that a commonsense method of adjustment of disputes will be adopted. I confidently appeal to all workers and employers to unite in the big job in which we are engaged, a job that calls for sustained effort until the issue is concluded."