GOVERNMENT AND WORKERS.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLI, Issue 1, 10 July 1914, Page 6

GOVERNMENT AND WORKERS.

ME VEITCH CONTRADICTED. DAIRY EMPLOYEES' VIEWS. WELLINGTON, July 7. The assertion made by Mr Veitcli, M.P., in the House last week that the present Government's policy is hostile to the interests of the workers is being vigorously combated by a number of working men at Ngaruawahia. The day after Mr Veitch's speech Mr Young, M.P., received a telegram signed by nine employees of the New Zealand Dairy Association's central factory at Ngaruawahia stating that Mr Veitch's statement was ''simply bosh." On the following day Mr Eobertson, M.P., read a telegram which he said had been received by Mr Veitch from some workers at the same factory confirming Mr Veitch's view, and insinuating that the message that had been sent to Mr Young was a joke. Mr Robertson did not read -the signatures to this telegram, but he said that there was no doubt that they were the signatures of the same workers who had sent the telegram to Mr Young.

Mr Robertson's statement led to several further telegrams from Ngaruawahia being sent to Mr Young on Saturday, but owing to his absence in his constituency during the week-end he did not receive them until to-day. These messages dispose of the "joke" story, and show that Mr Veitch's statements have met with very strong opposition from a large number of the workers at Ngaruawahia. Mr E. J. Moffitt, who had previously telegraphed to Mr Young combating Mr Veitch's statement, stated in a further message on Saturday: "I read the report of Mr Veitch's speech to the hands,, and I was asked was it correct? hands, and I asked was it correct? They stated no, and I suggested that they should wire you. Mr Myles wrote the telegram, and the hands signed their own names. There was no 'joke.' " Mr Myles, of Messrs Fitness Bros, ainl Lucas, also telegraphed confirming Mr Moffittt 's statement.

The following message was also among the batch received by Mr Young to-day: "We Central Factory workers congratulate y.ou (Mr Young) on your reply to Mr Veitch." This is signed by W.'Fitness, A. Fitness, A. Chalmers, T. Gillander, H. C. Petersen, 11. Goodwin, E. J. Moffitt, junr., and E. J. Moffitt, senr.