BUILDING TRADES

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 91, 14 October 1940, Page 9

BUILDING TRADES

REPLY TO PRIME MINISTER

EMERGENCY REGULATION

A meeting of the Building Trades Federation executive was held this morning at which the statement of the Prime Minister . (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) in Saturday's "Evening Post" in reference to the meeting of building trades' workers on Saturday was considered. The following statement was issued after the meeting:—■

"Mr. Fraser's comments on the resolution passed at Saturday's meeting show a lamentable lack of knowledge of the facts. The meeting which carried the resolution protesting at the latest Public Safety Emergency Regu^ lation was not organised by the officials of the • Carpenters' Union; it was convened. 'by the . Wellington Building Trades Federation. It was comprised of rank-and-file members of trade ■unions connected with the Building Trades Federation. It was called at the request of the trade union organisations concerned and in response to demands from meetings of workers on building jobs in the district. The Wellington Building Trades Council considered the requests for such a meeting warranted its being convened and in keeping with the principles of union democracy that rank-and-file members of trade unions should be afforded the fullest opportunity of freely discussing legislation and other matters affecting workers. In keeping with this principle, no recommendation was brought down to the meeting.by the executive. The trade unionists themselves were given the text of the regulation and the matter placed entirely in their hands. The resolution -which was the outcome received the unanimous support of the meeting.

"•If Mr. Fraser's references to Fascism and Nazism carry an implication that the building trade workers are not wholeheartedly opposed to these forces, this is refuted, and attention is drawn to the manner in which many of the building trade unions have consistently pointed to these dangers over a period of years. Desiring unreservedly the defeat of Fascism, the workers believe that such methods as are contemplated in the regulation will not assist in its defeat. SUGGESTION CONTRADICTED. "Mr. Fraser's suggestion that the industrial movement is in full agreement with the proposals is contradicted by the fact that, to our knowledge, at least thirty organisations have vigorously protested, and no amount of abuse can hide this fact. "Mr. Fraser appears to resent opposition to the regulations because the Federation of Labour has not yet protested, although he admits that the federation was not consulted, but that some only of the officials of organisations concerned were consulted. Does his statement that no opposition has come from the Federation of Labour imply that his reaction to such opposition would be somewhat different to his reaction to the building trade workers' protest? Mr. Fraser is, of course, aware that the policy of the Federation of Labour is determined by its affiliated organisations and that already demands have been made that the Federation of Labour wait on Cabinet with a view to pressing for the repeal of the regulation."