J. A. M'CULLOUGH'S CASE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 78, 28 September 1907, Page 8

J. A. M'CULLOUGH'S CASE.

INDIGNATION •IN CHEISTCHURCH. [UT TELEGRAPH — OWN COBRESrONPEXT.J CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. The suspension ' of Mr. J. A. M'Cullough, thp Labour leader, from work at the •Addington > workshops, has been freely discussed in the factories and workshops - where unionists arc employed, arid there is a general expression, of sympathy with Jfr. M'Cullough and indignation at the action of the Governraent. Mr; M'Cullough's popularity with the working classes hat brought the subject very prominently forward, but 'apart from that it is felt by unionifcts that an important principle is involved, and that a stand should be taken to "emancipate the railway employees," to use the expression on many lips, and , to give the f ullestmeasure of freedom of, speech. Communications have taken place with Labour bodies in other centres, and further steps have been. taken to bring about concerted action throughout the colony. , The Tinsmiths' Union, of which Mr. M'Cullough was a member, passed a motion last evening in reference to the suspension, stating tnat unless the notice was a mistake by some official, the workers of the colony should-, make a strong protest. . , Seen in reference to a statement *hat he had warnings, Mr. .M'Cullough gave an emphatic denial, but further than that he would not discuss the case, saying that he had seated tha -grounds of his protest against the suspension to the department. . "•-,,,, The statement to which Mr. M'Cul* lough gives a, denial does uofc appear to have been made by tho Premier. The effect of tjie Premier's reference to the subject in the House yesterday was that the Government could " not I allow any employee to flout and ignore its regulations ; where a regulation was in force an employee had to conform to it, und when he, failed to do so the.Gov. eminent had : to do- its duty. He was j not yet in a. position to state what the final" decision of the Government would be. The Government did not object to the political views of Civil Servants, "but one of the disabilities of being a Civil Servant was that ho must not take a> 1 public part in politics. If Parliament thought fit to (rive freedom to th* Giv-il Servant in political and local matters, the responsibility would be taken off the ! shoulders of the Government. Bat so | long as the regulation existed it must be i obeyed.