MOTUEKA TROUBLE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 256, 25 July 1936, Page 9

MOTUEKA TROUBLE

Hon. R. Semple’s Attitude Condemned LABOURERS’ ATTITUDE By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, July 24. In a strongly-worded resolution, the Auckland Builders’ General and Other Labourers’ Union condemns the attitude adopted by the Hon. R. Semple in dealing with the recent Motueka dispute aud calls upon the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hou. M. J. Savage, to issue a statement dissociating the Labour Government from the attacks made on "workers’ elementary rights.” The union considers that Mr. Semple's attitude and actions are contrary to the principles of Labour on the following grounds: — 1. The high-handed method of attacking stop-work meetings is a serious blow to the right of the working class to organise freely for protection and betterment of conditions. 2. That the resolutions of the Motueka men in condemning the actions of their general secretary, Mr. Cook, were matters of union procedure, and Mt’. Semple, in bringing pressure to bear ou tlie men to apologise, was destroying tlie elementary rights of trade union democracy. 3. That the action taken in dismissing officials of tho Motueka branch of the New Zealand Workers’ Union is a broach of tlie rights of trade unionism and is intimidation of any member or official who dares to criticise any existing agreement. Tlie secretary of tlie union. Mr. T. Stanley, states Unit tlie members made it clear that they are not criticising adversely the Labour Government, but are desirous of seeing the Government successful in its endeavour to improve the lot of the workers. At tho same time, it is considered that unless such statements and actions were repudiated they tended to divide the ranks of the workers rather than consolidate them.