Stop-Work Meetings

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31321, 17 March 1967, Page 10

Stop-Work Meetings

Sir, —Would the critics of the workers please get off the backs of the workers and do just a little work, themselves, and, for a change, let the workers get on their backs? They harp on more production. Why? We cannot sell what we make and let them go down to the dump, where all stuff that is not sold is dumped, and we talk of starving millions. I am sick and tired of hearing of more production when we know that these things are dumped. They say the worker does not do a good day’s work. Let them visit a factory and see the pace for themselves—the chain system, perhaps. These harping women would like a job there. Some of these places are sweat shops. Some of these women would change their minds.—Yours, etc., R. DAVIS. March 15, 1967.

Sir, —The Government’s aims are to help the nation to a path leading as quickly as possible, but permanently, back to a sensible state of prosperity and security for one and all. Anyone who at this time of grim reality will descend to organising a series of nation-wide, costly stopwork meetings, to indulge in nothing but a political hullabaloo, possesses, as his published remarks also prove, no qualification for recommending a remedial alternative to our national problem. One thing his action has certainly accomplished. That is, to do the Labour Party incalculable harm; and from the purely

political viewpoint we must compliment the Prime Minister for giving him rope to do it.—Yours, etc., NOUS VERRONS. March 15, 1967.

Sir, —Our Prime Minister is the confused and misguided figure of the present economic crisis, not Mr Skinner, who is to be congratulated for coming forward and telling the people the real facts. That thousands of people came to hear him is proof that they appreciate Mr Skinner’s effort to get real democracy functioning, with no one section being exploited and sacrificed for any other section of the community. The smear tactics aimed at antagonising the Federation of Labour against Labour’s political party will be ignored. The people are one democracy and leaders come forward from the Federation of Labour and the political party. The people now know what has happened to the economy. Congratulattions again to Mr Skinner. —Yours, etc, DEMOCRACY. March 16, 1967.

Sir, —After reading the account of the Federation of Labour meeting at Auckland one can hardly say that this was democracy at its brightest and best. Mr Booker, who wished to speak against the resolution, was not given an opportunity. Does this mean that only one side was heard? The fact that “the resolution was approved with a roar from the crowd” suggests that those with the loudest voices won out. What chance had the quiet voice of reason? Only by a secret ballot can a man express his true views without fear of victimisation. If what the federation is doing is supposed to help the worker I do not want to be around if ever Mr Skinner decides to hinder us.—Yours, etc., GROW UP, OR GO UNDER. March 15, 1967.

Sir, —I would like to ask “A Worker,” “Grow Up or Go Under,” “Pioneer’s Granddaughter” and other apologists for our discredited Government if they read an item on today’s racing page which informs your readers that there will be week-day racing during working hours on Monday at New Plymouth, Tuesday at Waipukurau, and Friday at Opunake, all in this week; and to cap it all, racing again between the hours of 8 and 5 on Monday at Ashburton. And so it goes on. If these people had the good of New Zealand at heart surely they would be criticising the Government for allowing this to happen instead of endeavouring without success to belittle Mr Skinner for doing all he can to show the workers what an inept Government we have.—Yours, etc., HYPOCRITE-HATER-. March 15, 1967.