"OFF THE BAT."

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 245, 15 October 1940, Page 4

"OFF THE BAT."

CHAIRMAN'S COMMENT

HOSPITAL BOARD'S REPLY.

Protest at remarks by the chairman, Mr. Allan J. Moody, at a previous meeting, was made in a letter from the Auckland Boilermakers' I*uion, received at a meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board last evening. The letter said it had been reported that Mr. Moody, in referring to workers, had said: '"If I had my way I would make them work until they dropped." The letter also questioned whether Mr. Moody should remain chairman of the board. Mr. J. V. Macfcy moved that the letter be received, and that the board express confidence in the chairman. He said that it was always dangerous to take words from their context. The remarks had not left the impression on the board that they conveyed to the public. It seemed that too much had been made of them. Some people were terribly thinskinned and took a remark made "off the bat" which did not carry the sting suggested. Dr. A. P. Hastings said that the chairman was exposing himself to be made mincemeat of. Mr. Moody replied that they had not done it yet. Mr. W. K. Howitt said that national leaders had been urging the fullest industrial effort. Mrs. M. M. Dreaver said that the remarks were not directed at any group, and were similar to remarks made. on the patriotic platform. Dr. H. Northcroft contended that all should give their utmost in national interest and pointed out that some of the girls engaged in war work in Auckland were working 58 hours a week. Mr. Moody said that he objected to the tone of the letter. had been a tirade of abuse and misunderstanding, and he drew attention to the Government s slogan to "work for their lives" and the same thing had been said in Parliament and in England. Mr. Churchill lad said he could only promise blood, sweat and tears. In New Zealand the Hon. Mr. Nash had said that they must work and produce more. Mr. Moody asked whether the country was exerting its fullest war effort, and ' were the members of some unions anxious and willing for Britain to win the war? Were they prepared to work 1 longer hours for war purposes and, if necessary, work to the point of exhaustion? Mr. Moody said that the report of his remarks was not full and accurate. What he did say and what he repeated was: "It is the duty of every man to work to save the Empire and to keep on working, if necessary, even until thev drop.' He made no apologies to anyone and would not be bulldozed into silence by an irresponsible section of the community. The trouble was that , °, man 7 People, even some Labour leaders, had not the courage to express their views and give a lead to the people. The motion, which expressed confidence in the chairman, was carried unanimously.