RECENT TRAM STRIKE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 140, 13 June 1912, Page 4

RECENT TRAM STRIKE

EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION AND THE MINISTER. . As a result of tho recent tramway strike, the union was prosecuted and fined, but no steps were taken against alleged abettors. On 23rd April, Mr. W. Pryor. secretary of the New Zealand Employers' Federation, wrote as follows to the Hon. (>. Laurenson, Minister for Labour : — "I am instructed to write expressing the regret of my Advisory Board that action has not been taken by Government against those who incited, aided, and abetted the above strike. Legal advice obtained by my board is to the effect that action 'should be taken, and could bo successfully prosecuted. It is understood that this matter was referred to the Crown Law Officers by your predecessor, and what is suggested now is that, as, in our solicitor's opinion, your officers could not do other than agree that a. clear case/for action exists, proceedings should be taken without delay as a means of indicating that flagrant breaches of the law will not be tolerated by Government, as representing the general community." No reply wae received, and on 28th May Mr. Pryor -wrote : — "At a meeting of my Advisory Board, held to-day, considerable surprise was expressed thai no reply had been' received to my latter ,to you of "23rd ultimo with regard to the above matter. The board desires me to again impress upon you the necessity, in the public interest, of action being taken to impose the penalties provided by law upon those who aided, ai>etted, and incited the above 6trike. Your attention is drawn to the fact that the persons whom it is proposed 'should be prosecuted were most of them either leaders of an organisation .which is avowedly flouting the Industrial Conciliation* and Arbitration Act, and which haa announced its intention of observing agreements only so long as it is deemed expedient to do so, or those connected with unions registered under the Act, and who were well aware they were breaking the law, and aware of the penalties provided • for so doing. Considerable pressure is being brought to bear upon the bo^rd Lto make public protest against the inaction of the Government in connection with this matter, but it ,1b loth to do so, as it hopes that you ' will give instructions for the necessary steps' to be taken without ,any appeal being made to the 'public- in connection therewith. I have to point out,, however, that tas the time within, which action can 'be taken is now comparatively short, it' ", will b& necassar'y . for ,a public protest to be, made/ unless instructions are'issued shortly for" the law to be put into operation." ', Yesterday the following motion was adopted, a copy to be sent to the Mm,- , ister : — "At a largely-attended meeting of my Advisory Board, held tips morning, it wae unanimously resolved that ; as no reply had been received to my ■ letters cf 23rd April and 28th - May . with reference to the above, thafcopies I of these letters be handed to the press I for publication."