THE WAR EFFORT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 3, 15 October 1940, Page 3

THE WAR EFFORT

NO APOLOGY TO MAKE. CRITICISM FROM A UNION. (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, October 14. “The trouble is that too many people, even some Labour leaders, have

not the courage to express their views and give a lead to the people,” said the chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board (Mr Allan Moody) at a board meeting to-night in replying to criticism by the Auckland Boilermakers’ Union of remarks reported to have been made by him at the previous hoard meeting. This report credited Mr Moodj r with saying, in reference to the 40-hour week, that “the sooner ' the unions wake up the better.” If lie lad his way lie “would make them work until they dropped and keep them

working.” The union asked whether Mr Moody, having got his way, proposed to take his place side by side with the workers or if he proposed to be in charge of the whip ? It also asked whether board members could consider Mr Moody, after this outburst, a suitable person to be chairman. Mr J. V. Macky moved that the

board reaffirm its confidence in the chairman. He had no personal recollection of the words used by the chair-, man. Dr. Hastings said he had heard the remarks made. “You also said they’d make mincemeat of you.” The chairman: I am prepared to take all they can give me.

Other members said they bad ..o recollection of hearing the remarks made. The chairman said the substance of his remarks was the Government’s slogan “work for your lives.” His statements were made from patriotic motives. It would be illuminating to have answers to the questions “Is New Zealand exerting her fullest war effort? Are members of some unions anxious for Britain to win the war and to work longer hours, and, if the necessity arose, to work even to the point of exhaustion to save not only themselves'but the Empire? What he had said at the last meeting was that for the duration of the war it was the duty of everyone to work to save the Empire and to keep on working, if necessary, even until they dropped. “I make no apology to anyone, and 1 am certainly not going to be bulldozed into

silence by an irresponsible section of the community,” he added. He said it was not the case that he had been hitting back at the hospital staff. He enjoyed happy relations with them. Dr. Hastings said lie had heard the actual words used by the chairman, but he would accept his statement. The motion of confidence was carried without dissent. *