MR. MILLAR DEFENDED.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 258, 24 July 1908, Page 3

MR. MILLAR DEFENDED.

| Sir,—ln your issue of July 13 I read in. your columns a statement signed "Nemesis, | stating that ho remembered Mr. Millar, tho present Minister,'for. Labour, 'when as a labour agitator he conducted the great niari-. time strike of 1890, and when, owing to numerous threats'against his (the-writer's)' life, by the strikers, lie was forced to carry a revolver on his way home' at night. He also states that' Mr. Millar and Mr. Rigg' have both climbed-on the back of the workman into very comfortable billets, and now the Minister, with his £1000 a year, has become a Minister facing both ways in very despair as to what.attitude will sujt him best in tbo bakers' strike. I wish to point out that the writer of tho above must know very little about what he is writing, or else he is trying to mako the public believe what is' false and misleading in every sense of the word. I have known Mr. Millar since 1882, when he was going to sea, as mate of the' Go-ahead steamer. When ho became secretary of the Seamen's Union in Duncdin during the year 1883, I was in Dunedin and .was one of tho executive officers of the' Seamen's Union, and I know what I am stating is true. Afterwards tho 1886 strike came on us, through the. Northern Steam Shipping Company reducing wages, which the seamen would not stand, and the wholo of the Australian.Federated Seamen's Union subscribed monoy to compote against the Nortljern Company. Captain Bern was sent to Australia' to charter boats, which was the cause of. the steamship Bellinger being brought 'over to Now Zealand, and tho s.s. Stormbird was chartered and sent to Auckland and competed in the Whangayci trade for eighteen months, ■when tho Northern Steam Shipping Company gavo way to the demands of the seamen. Mr. Millar was in Auokland during.

the eighteen months referred to, antl harl to do what lie was told to do, not liko tho secretaries and members of the Trades Council, who arc very good at running down other men who liavo always worked for the good of his fellow-men. He had to bo satisfied with his single pay, not like being secretary for five or six unions. If the Trades Council had executive officers at the present time in Wellington these men would liave less to say and bo moro accurate. '

I wish to point out that Mr. Millar never conducted the strike of 1890. Tho maritime strike started from the Union Steam Shipping Company's boat in Sydney. When tho ships arrived in Now Zealand tho men camo out of the ships. . I havo said beforo Mr. Millar was a paid servant, and had to .carry out what ho was told to do.' Two seamen were sent to Port Chalmers to nominate Mr. Millar for Parliament. Captain Moir and Captain Veal were both his nominator and seconder. Mr. J. A. Millar was defeated on that occasion. Mr. Millar had no capitalist at his back to assist him. Mr, Millar again stood as a member for the House of Parliament, and Captain Moir and Captain Veal were the/ gentlemen who again nominated and seconded his candidature as a member. Sir, 1 could say a great deal more. I know the truth will stand tho test. Mr. Millar is in a position of trust, and all eyes are upon him, but in all fairness he should not be blamed for what he is not guilty of doing.—l am, etc., FAIR PLAY. , July 15.