CRITICISM OF MINISTERS

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16211, 14 May 1918, Page 7

CRITICISM OF MINISTERS

TIMARU RAILWAYMEN'S

RESOLUTION

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

TIMARU, May 13

The Timaru Branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants has passed tho following resolution unanimously:—"That the Timaru JJianch of tlio Amalgamated iSociety of Railway Servants calls upon Mr Massey to do his duty and protect the workers from further exploitation at the hands of monopolists. That in view ot' what tho .National Government has done, Mr Masaey's statement, reported in the 'New Zealand Times,' of April wherein he is roported to have said 'that there were many tilings which wo have not dono that will be done, and further- I am strongly of opinion that wo must do our duty,' is so much hot air. Considering the words emanated from the Premier of the National Government, who has failed in every instance to do his duty to tho workers of the Dominion, notwithstanding tho Avasto of public'money in setting up commissions, which havo failed to attain their object because their recommendations wero ignored by tho Government, we demand that the Premier initiate, ■in a practical manner, tho theory he so ably advocated in tho same speech. Mr Massey calls upon the poople of the Dominion to make greater sacrifices during tho present crisis. We hereby call upon the Government to deal with the cost of living problem before asking the workers to make greater sacrifices. It is most deplorable that a member of the Government should make suoh a call upon tho workers whilst a responsible Minister like Sir Joseph Ward is endeavouring to bleed the Imperial Government (see 'Lyttolton Timeß,' of May 3rd), by asking them to pay cash for the frozen 'nutton lying in New Zealand refrigorriting chambers, which would only benefit tho big man. This constitutes a scandal, emanating from a Minister who calls himself a patriot, when the same Minister absolutely refuses justice to the wives and members of the Second Division. It is about time Sir Joseph Ward put as much oncrgy into finding ways and means of paying Second Division members' wives a living wage, as to getting from the Homo Government four million sterling for tho benefit of the few."