“UNFAIR IMPUTATIONS”

Evening Star, Issue 20635, 7 November 1930, Page 11

“UNFAIR IMPUTATIONS”

Mi MISTER TAKES UMBRAGE CURT REPLY TO LABOUR COUNCIL “ In view on the tone ol the letter dated October -id, addressed to me by the secretary of your council, and of the unfair imputations it contains against the Government and myseiU 1 do hot propose to take any action oiaer than to advise yon tnat the communication reached me by the mail arriving hero on the Ist instant.” That is the brief reply of the Minister of Labour (Hon. S. G. Smith) to Air W. G. Baird, president of the Otago District Council of the Alliance of Labour. in reference to a letter sent by the council secretary (Mr J, Robinson! protesting against the Minister’s determination to "himself select the workers’ representative on tho Unemployment Board, instead of allowing tho industrial unions to select their own representatives. . Commenting on the reply, Mr Robinson said that tho Government was staging a sham and no doubt the Minister felt peeved at the fact that his intention to have a party whip to pretend to represent tho workers was clearly discerned. . “ It is evident,” said Mr Robinson, “ that tho Minister is no lover of direct speech, and that lie has no desire to deal with a person who calls a spade a spade. The Government was born of an illusion, and it has been living on illusions ever since But it the Minister thinks that he should be allowed to select his opponents’ representatives the Labour movement in New Zealand cannot, be blamed for doubting his honesty of purpose. If the Government wants an Unemployment Board of party politicians, labelled as something they are not, to administer the Unemployment Insurance Act it _ 's adopting the best method of secunng its wishes, but the Labour movement is not going to be a - party to a business of that kind.” r , During the past two years Lie Labour movement had solid reason lor being sceptical ol everything po.iticul, declared Mr Robinson. If the Ministers idea of a fair selection were extended to its logical conclusion the Government in office would surely he entitled to select the members to represent the several political parties in the House.