GRAVE CRISIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27499, 20 September 1950, Page 6

GRAVE CRISIS

Time For Strong Action THE RULE OF LAW PA WELLINGTON, Sept. 19. “This morning I invited representatives of the strikers to discuss the present position with the Minister of Labour and myself. At that meeting I informed those present that the Government took a most serious view of the situation, and had decided that unless normal work was resumed on all waterfronts tomorrow morning the Government would, under the provisions of the Public Safety Conservation Act, declare a state of emergency to exist.” This announcement was made by the Prime Minister, Mr Holland, in the House of Representatives today in a statement on the latest developments in the waterfront dispute. Mr Holland said his statement could be regarded as the first instalment of a system of White Papers, and after reading it, he moved that it be printed as a White Paper. “At 2.30 p.m. tomorrow,” Mr Holland said, “ the Government will introduce a resolution into the House asking Parliament to endorse its action. At the same time, detailed information of the various powers the Government will take to deal with the situation will be laid before Parliament. The Government is determined that the full force of the State and all the resources at its disposal will, be brought to bear in dealing with the situation. I wish most earnestly to appeal to all people to exercise calm in this grave crisis, and I appeal with equal earnestness to the watersiders and any others who may support them, most carefully to consider the disastrous consequences of their action and the effect it will have on hundreds of thousands of innocent working people who are bound to suffer heavily unless the present trouble is settled and normal work is resumed. Many Conferences “ The Government and the leaders of the workers affected have had many conferences. There has been no conflict between the Government and the workers, who must realise that no selfrespecting Government can allow this country fo be paralysed. I sincerely hope that the course of action I have indicated will not be necessary and that common sense will yet prevail. Mr Sullivan and I Jiave, on behalf of the Government, made it clear that we will do anything that will ensure harmony in the industry, but we have been firm and insistent that it is fundamental and basic in the Government’s policy that the rule of law must prevail and that observance of the law and compliance with the decisions of lawfully constituted industrial authorities must be observed.

“In the opinion of the Government, the present hold-up is part and parcel of the ‘cold war’ being waged throughout the world and must be treated on that basis. The people of New Zealand have a right to look to their constitutionally elected Government to ensure observance of law and order and the peaceful carrying on of the wharves and the supply to the people of the necessaries of life. The Government is determined to discharge that obligation fearlessly and firmly.” Earlier in his statement, Mr Holland said that he had to inform the House that work at all ports had, with the exception of the handling of certain perishable cargoes, been brought to a standstill and the country’s transport system was virtually paralysed. “The decision of the watersiders to hold up the industry and trade of the country can only be deplored in the strongest terms,” he said. “ With the Minister of Labour, I have had long discussions with the leaders of the waterside workers. We have done everything in our power to impress upon them the loss, suffering and inconvenience that are inescapable consequences of their action. In our meetings with them we have discussed the most minute details of their problems. Cause of Suffering

“We have tried to impress upon them that strikes are not a satisfactory or proper method of dealing with disputes, and that they cause suffering to hundreds of thousands of innocent people. We have invited the watersiders to submit proposals for the more satisfactory working of their industry and for the settlement of disputes. In our August discussions we offered to establish a royal commission to inquire into every aspect of their industry. That proposal was wholeheartedly welcomed by the watersiders, who gave their pledge that until the royal commission had completed its .findings there would be uninterrupted work on the wharves throughout New Zealand. Immediately the August conference was concluded, the Government set about preparations for establishing a royal commission, and will be ready this week to announce its personnel and the order of reference.

“ We wrote to all interested parties inviting them to submit their ideas about the matters to be inquired into by the royal commission, and the last to reply were the watersiders, who gave their views last Thursday. The present hold-up is in complete breach of their clear undertaking that normal work would proceed pending the royal commission’s findings. “ The issues involved in the present trouble are fundamental and basic,” Mr Holland said. "Lampblack is only one of many matters in dispute. The real trouble is simply whether the disputes are to be settled by a lawfully-constituted authority or by direct action and strikes. The watersiders themselves asked for the reestablishment of the Waterfront Industry Authority, and agreed to abide by its decisions, yet when a decision of the authority is given with whicn they disagree, they refuse to honour their pledge to abide by its decision, and use the strike weapon in what they say is the only means of achieving their ends.

“ We have invited the watersiders to put forward to the royal commission their proposals for running the wharves We have promised them that the present, and any future disputes, can be considered by the royal commission. There is nothing more we can offer them. It is only a matter of a few weeks ago that they asked for the re-establishment of the Waterfront Industry Authority. Now they demand that- it should be abolished.”