A PROTEST MEETING

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 91, 14 October 1940, Page 6

A PROTEST MEETING

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —May I be permitted, to make a statement in your columns in reference to the meeting of building trades workers held on Saturday, at which a resolution condemning the latest Emergency Regulations was carried unanimously and to the comment regarding the same by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) in Saturday's issue of "The Post"? First of all, Sir, contrary to Mr. Fraser's statement, the meeting was not "organised by the officials of the Carpenters' Union" but was organised by the Wellington Council of the New Zealand Building Trades' Federation. Secondly, again contrary to Mr. Fraser's statement, I am not and never was a member of the Peace and Anti-Conscription Council. Also, Mr. Fraser speaks of officials endeavouring to mislead carpenters and other building workers. I may say, Sir, that at the meeting the resolution was moved spontaneously from the floor of the meeting, and not brought forward by the organisers of the meeting, and was carried unanimously after Considerable discussion by rank and file members of all the unions concerned.

Again, Mr. Fraser says the Government has received no intimation of opposition from the national trade union organisation, the Federation of Labour, and yet the Auckland Trades Council of the Federation of Labour (biggest of its kind) at a special meeting on Thursday last, attended by over 100 delegates from all unions in the city, a resolution protesting against the regulations and instructing their executive to take steps to have it repealed was carried by a very substantial majority.

Lastly, Sir, Mr. Fraser says, as justification for his Government's action in bringing down such iniquitous legislation, that the. Government was "elected by a very substantial majority of the people." If being elected by a very substantial majority gives Mr. Fraser and his Cabinet the right to bring down such legislation (by Order in Council during a session of Parliament incidentally), then, though not given to making such statements as Mr. Fraser so easily does, I can justly claim to speak on behalf of the carpenters,

for I was elected unopposed to the position of president of the Carpenters' Union only a month ago.—l am, etc., W. A. JAMIESON.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I personally must take strong exception to the report of the proceedings that allegedly took place at a meeting in the Wellington Trades Hall on Saturday morning. The writer, being a financial member of a union said to be concerned, asks you to give i his statement publicity equal to that granted to those, who are desirous of enunciating their opposition to the State's activities in the prosecution of the war against Fascists and Dirty Shirt domination.

Your report of the alleged motion carried unanimously read: "That this special meeting of workers in the trades mentioned takes the strongest possible exception to the regulations as gazetted by the Government." Regarding my own union, no notices were sent out nor was any meeting ever held giving any authority to represent the Wellington Plumbers' Union at this protest meeting. And it is well to understand that every member is not a member by his own choice or free will.

I consider New Zealand to be the happy hunting ground for aliens*, and I have had personal experience in working alongside some men who proclaim the fact that they are proud that they are not Britishers. It can only with safety be said that every movement has its firebrands, employers' federations not excepted. Some were financially assisted into this beautiful land by the present regime. So the chickens have come home to roost. Finally, allow me to inform you that at the Trades Hall protest meeting many true born loyal New Zealanders were conspicuous by their absence. The Wellington Plumbers' Union delegated authority to nobody to vote or represent it as implied in your report of the proceedings.—l am, etc.,

A FINANCIAL MEMBER OF THE WELLINGTON PLUMBERS' UNION.