“WRECKERS HAVE OTHER PLANS IN MIND”

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26410, 2 May 1951, Page 6

“WRECKERS HAVE OTHER PLANS IN MIND”

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, May 1. The Government has called for’volunteers to form a civil emergency organisation to carry out any task that the present emergency may require in protecting life and property. This decision was made after a special Cabinet meeting to-day, and was announced this evening by the Prime Minister (Mr Holland). The Prime Minister said that the Police Force was limited in numbers, and in times of emergency everything could not be left to it. “Other plans which we know the wreckers to have in mind will require widespread action,” he said. Volunteers are asked to apply after 10 o’clock to-morrow morning to mayors or chairmen of local town boards or county councils. Written applications should include the full name, address, occupation, and telephone number.

At present the organisation will be limited to men, but should the need arise for help from women an announcement will be made later.

The Prime Minister has convened a conference in Wellington at which he will arrange for the organisation to be taken over in the various centres. He said it would take a day or two to get the organisation running and details settled. In the meantime he asked mayors and chairmen to arrange for small working executives to sort offers of help and arrange for the compilation of a local register.

Mr Holland said: "I have not previously approached the task of making a broadcast to the people of New Zealand with a greater sense of responsibility or with a deepar sense of public duty than I do at this very moment. When I took the oath of my office I swore on my honour that I should do my duty to my country and to the people who put me where I am. Tonight I honour my pledge to my King and my country, and difficult though may be the task, I feel and sense that my colleagues and I have the backing and gcodwill of the people to whom I address myself. “The industrial crisis in which New Zealand has been gripped for more than 10 weeks has taken a dramatic and grave turn, and a very determmed effort has been made to overthrow orderly government by force.

“Some 10’ weeks ago a small group of men possessing great power in our industrial system declared war on the people by calling a strike in one of our principal key industries, and ever since going on strike they have employ#! every means in their power to spread the trouble, so as to ensure that the trade of our country will be paralysed, believing they could force the Government to surrender. Search for Settlement

“For those 10 weeks your Government has explored every possible avenue of settling the trouble. Some people may ■think we have been too tolerant and too patient Maybe they are right, but the fact remains that our methods have produced most encouraging results, and we have been very successful in the formation of new unions and in the resumption of work. Some 32 new unions have already been formed by the workers cutting themselves free 'from the domination of the real trouble-makers and by form ng new unions of their own. “Late last week a large number of applications for work on the wharves were made in Auckland, and it appeared likely that once union labour started work in Auckland the end would be in sight. But then, suddenly, a new and desperate situation developed, and in their desperation these people who are responsible for all this trouble changed their tactics in order to stop urgent'y-needed coal from reaching the people’s fireplaces.

“A determined and dastardly attempt was made to blow up a railway bridge near Huntly, and it was miraculous that the attempt was not accompanied by serious loss of life of men, mind you, who were engaged in peaceful productive work. Whoever dreamed ‘hat such a thing would come to pass in this country of ours? Attack at Auckland

“The next step these desperate men decided upon was to beat up and bash into unconsciousness a working man who had the courage to say, ‘l’m fed up with all this nonsense, and im going back to the wharves to do some honest work and to earn some honest money for my family.’ In the dead of night that innocent man was attacked violently at his home in the presence of his wife and children. To-night he lies mrimed in an Auckland hospital. “This morning, here in Wellington, attempts to inVmidate workers were made. These followed similar demonstrations and intimidations in Auckland last Saturday and again yesterday.

“There is more I could say. but I think I have said enough to impress on you all the seriousness of the situation.

“As a Government we have exercised patience beyond what most people expected of; us. but in my view it has been better to be patient than impetuous. We have been winning a

grim struggle, against people who no thought of the rights and welfare of other people, against people who will stoop to any depths to achieve their enas.

“Until now. I am certain, our tactics have been right, but I am equally certain they are entirely inadequate to meet the new terrorism that has arisen, and accordingly I called a special meeting of the Cabinet this morning to receive reports from various centres and to determine what is best to do to meet this serious challenge to our New Zealand way of life. “Other Plans of the Wreckers” “The maintenance of law and order in normal times is a matter for the Police Force, which is limited in numbers. In times of emergency we cannot leave everything to them. Other plans which we know the wreckers to have in mind will require widespread action. Our citizens must be protected from violence and intimidation Law and order must be preserved. "The Cabinet therefore has decided to establish a civil emergency organisation of loyal citizens which will stand with the Government in carrying out any task the emergency may require in protecting life and property “lor the moment the organisation will be limited to men. but should there be need for help from women, and there may well be such a need, an announcement will be made later on. “I have convened a conference in Wellington which I shall ask to take over the organisation in the various centres. It will take a day or two to get the organisation running and details settled.

“What I wish to ask now is just this: will every able-bodied man willing to serve his country in the present crisis and who is willing to accept any task within his capacity that may be assigned to him please register his name with the mayor of his city or borough, or alternatively with the chairman of his local town board or countv council? “To avoid congestion at local bodv offices it would assist if volunteers who cannot call personally would address written applications for enrolment to the mayor, providing the following information:—full name, address, occupation, and telephone number. To enable mayors and chairmen to prepare for your registration I suggest that applications be not made until after 10 o’clock to-morrow morning.” Request to Mayors

Speaking especially to the mayors of cities and boroughs and chairmen of county councils and town board' throughout New Zealand. Mr Holland said: “The Government requests that you act on its behalf in receiving offers for enlistment in the civil emergency organisation, and that you ar range for a small working executive to sort offers of help and to arrange for the compilation of a local regisThe Prime Minister added: "This is an occasion for New Zealand and New Zeelanders to make a demonstration of their loyalty to their country and to cne another, and to tell those who would wreck our country that they are not going to be allowed to succeed. Let us tell them that New Zealanders are not people who can be cowed and terrorised. We refuse to be trampled underfoot by anyone. “We have the best country in the world to live in. We have the best industrial laws in the world. Let Us tell the people who are trying to replace the rule of law with the rule of force that we prefer the rule of law; and are determined to stick to it. Let your registrations be New Zealand’s answer to New Zealand s wreckers.”