“STRATFORD EVENING POST” WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26.

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 41, 26 September 1928, Page 4

“STRATFORD EVENING POST” WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26.

THE COMMONWEALTH Government manifests a laudable desire to ccpe in a reasonable manner with the chaos in Australia. As its Premier truthfully puts the position, the last decade of industrial upheaval due to the Jacob Johansens and the Jock Gardens and others of similar aims lias made Australia a byword. It has done worse than this, for it has caused direct and indirect money losses running into scores of millions, and incidently has done much to bring about the unemployment problem. In cases where industrial effort languishes wher e there is lack of reasonable confidence, to restore trade and safeguard industry such reasonable confidence must be asured. One cause for its lacking in Australia during the last ten years is now to be dealt with by the Commonwealth Government. It proposes to prevent what is very properly called victimisation of the workers generally by means of what is called “Preference to Unionists.” In the past when a handful of agitators have held up industry till def feated by the strength of public opinion, when they have agreed to return to work they have demanded and obtained the dismissal of all workers who came forward to keep the wheels of industry moving. The Commonwealth Government now pro poses to alter this abominabel state of affairs. The Government is tackling the waterside aspect first. It does not propose to prohibit strikes —an impossible thing, for it is within the power of any man to refuse to work —hut it will substitute for preference to unionists a system of. Government registrat/m of transport workers. Only registered transport workers may be employed. Presumably in the event c£ a strike, the rights accruing from registration will be forfeited. Of course other workers will be invited to register, and all who do so will be ensured regularity of employment and protection in it—no wholesale “sacking” when the strikers condescend to return to work