GOVERNMENT POLICY CRITICIZED

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 282, 23 August 1940, Page 3

GOVERNMENT POLICY CRITICIZED

Otahuhu Railwaymen

(By Telegraph—Frees Association.) \ AUCKLAND, August 22. Criticism of the Government and demands for sweeping changes in policy were included in a motion passed at a special meeting of the Otahuhu branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants. The resolution is as follows :—

“That the Otahuhu branch, representing 1000 railwaymen, records the opinion that the Government’s present administration is not in the interests of the workers of New Zealand. We therefore demand: (1) That because of statements made by manufacturers and wholesalers and so on that the cost of living will further increase, a rise of at least 10/- a week be given. (2) That the Government take immediate steps to see that real wages are not in future negated by the rise in the cost of living. (3) That conscription of wealth, including all profits and all incomes over £5OO, be instituted. (4) That the 1/- in the pound taxation be removed and the Federation of Labour proposals substituted. (5) That Messrs. Coates and Hamilton be removed from the War Cabinet. (6) That all subsidies to vested interests be stopped.”

MR. FRASER REPLIES

Attempt Seen To Split

Labour

“I refuse to believe that the resolution in question represents the views of the railway workers concerned,” said the Prime Minister, Mr. Eraser, yesterday. “It appears to be simply an attempt by a small group of or worse to drive a wedge in the Labour movement as well as to divide the country’s united war effort, and as such is not entitled to serious consideration. “The Labour Government, representing hundreds of thousands of voters, is closer in touch with the mass of the working people'than a small group concerned mainly with raising difficulties during the war period, and endeavouring by distortion and misrepresentation to corrupt the public mind and delude unthinking people, most of whom are anxious to serve their country to the fullest extent.”