MR SKINNER AND FARMERS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 159, 18 April 1947, Page 4

MR SKINNER AND FARMERS

“FINGER POINTING” AGAIN DISCUSSED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 17. .“In his reply to Federated Farmers the Minister of Rehabilitation fMjl* C. F. Skinner) has avoided the main issue,” says a statement issued by headquarters of Federated Farmers to-day, v “Federated Farmers made an inquiry as to whether or not the Minister would also point a finger at those people who are restricting their efforts by striking and by going slow, and also at those people who, through the practice of spelling, actually work half the number of* hours for which they are paid. Mr Skinner says he wishes to emphasise that he thinks just as badly of any other worker who disregards constitutional procedure, and who goes on strike or goes slow to achieve his ends, as he did of farmers who were taking the attitude; That is not the point. “The point is whether or not Mr Skinner will point a finger at the in question. Will he roundly condemn, in no uncertain terms, the higliwayinan tactics to which the ordinary decent people of New Zealand have been subjected in recent times. “Mr Skinner can prove his bona tides by saying exactly what he thinks of workers’ leaders who have endeavoured to hold the community to ransom. A great many people in the community are thinking a lot at the present time, but'that is a different thing from a specific denunciation such as the Minister has been moved to make in the case of farmers. “Let Mr Skinner either attack the much more reprehensible conduct of the Labour leaders concerned, or let him hold his peace,” the statement concludes.