GOVERNMENT AND WORKERS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15014, 8 July 1914, Page 11

GOVERNMENT AND WORKERS.

SIR VEJTCH CONTRADICTED. DAIRY EMPLOYEES', VIEWS. IffPECIAt TO "THE PRESS.") ' WELLINGTON, July 7. The assertion made by Mr W. A. Veitch, M.P., last week, that the present Government's -policy is hostile to the interests of the workers, is bfing' vigorously combated by a numbnr of working men at Ngaruawahia. The day after Mr Veitch's speech, Air Young, M.P., received a telegram signed by nine employees of +ho New Zealand Dairy Association's central factory at Ngaruawahia, stating that Mr Veitch's statement was "simply bosh." On tho following day, Mr Robertson, M.P.,. read a telegram which,-he said, had boon received by Mr Voitch from some workers at the same factoiy, confirming Mr Veitch's view, and insinuating that the message that had be«n sent to Mr Young was a joke. Mr Robertson did * not read tho signatures to;this.telegram,'but he said that they wero no doubt tho, signatures of the same' workers who had sent tho telegram" to Mr Young. Mr Robertson's statement lod to several more telegrams from Ngaruawahia. being sent to Mr Young on Saturday "last, but owing to his absence in his constituency tho weekend, he did not-receive them until today. These messages dispose of, tho, "joke 1, story, and show' that Mr Veitch's statements have ' met wit h very strong opposition from a large number of the workers.at Ngaruawahia.

Mr- Eγ J. TVfoffit't, wlio had previously telegraphed ,to .Mr. Xoung combating Mr vVottch's-statement, stated in a further message on Saturday: "I read the - ' report -of "Mr •" Veitch's speech to the hands, and 'I asked 'was it correct , ? They stated 'No,' and I suggested that they should wire you. Mr Myles wrote the telegram; €he hands signed their own names,' There was:no 'joke.'" Messrs Mvles,. Fitness . Bros., and Lucas also , telegraphed confirming Mr statement.The following, message was also among the batch received'by Mr Young to-day: '^We, Central Factory workers, congratulate.yriuCon your reply to Mr Veitch.i' This is. signed by W. Fit0033,"A.'Fitness; A. Chalmers. T. Gillander, H. C. Petersen, H. Goodwin, E. J. Mo'ffitiv'junr., and E. J. Moffitt, senr. .