THE WORKSHOPS TROUBLE

Evening Star, Issue 23832, 12 March 1941, Page 12

THE WORKSHOPS TROUBLE

NEARLY 800 MEN OUT BIG MEETING IN HUH PARK [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, March 11. Apart from apprentices and trainees who are not included in the strike at the Hutt Railways Workshops, fewer than 20 out of a staff of 800 reported for dqty at the shops this morning. A meeting of the men had been called for 10 aim. outside the workshops gates, but when the men assembled the meeting was transferred to Hutt Park, where it was held under the pine trees.

• The Chairman announced that the executive had been informed that the emergency regulations had been invoked, declaring the strike illegal, and, therefore, no reference could be made about the merits of the dispute. He also announced that Superintendent Lopdell, of the Police Department, was present, but he was quite sure that nothing would be said that would cause the cancellation of the meeting. Contacts had been made with other railway workshops in the Dominion, and also with other trade unions, and the attitude of these would be known in a few days. Officials of several other unions present at the meeting said that the matter would be considered by their unions in a few days. The meeting was conducted in a most orderly manner. A picnic at Hutt Park has been arranged for to-morrow. The men who have been working on munitions have received a letter from their union instructing them to remain on the job while the National Executive meets and issues any subsequent instructions. “ Inspectors of munitions,” says the letter, “ are under the jurisdiction of the Defence Department, and any refusal to perform duty would render you liable to any penalties the army authorities may decide.” No further developments are expected until after the executive councils of the A.S.R.S. and R.T.A. meet independently to-morrow. It is proposed to hold a joint conference later. CARPENTERS SYMPATHETIC WELLINGTON, March 11. At a largely-attended meeting of members of the Wellington branch of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners to-night two speakers from the Hutt Workshops addressed the gathering, and the following resolution was carried;— “ This meeting sends fraternal greetings and sympathy to the workers in the Hutt Workshops in their fight for the principle of the 40-hour week. We request the Government to pay the railway' workshop employees the same rates of pay and employ them for the him hours as are enjoyed by workers in private enterprise, and we pledge our support to the Hutt Workshops employees in their struggle, and desire to make a contribution towards a fund for the dependents of the strikers.” RETURNED MEN AMONG STRIKERS MR SEMPLE'S COMMENT RESENTED WELLINGTON, March 11. Approximately 200 returned soldiers who are among the strikers attended a meeting this afternoon, when exception was taken to the remarks of Mr Semple that the trouble was caused by a few men “ whose views were tinged with a foreign philosophy.” It was pointed out that many men among the strikers had fought at Mons, Passchendaele, Arras, Cambrai, Gallipoli, Palestine, and Egy r pt, and their loyalty to-day had never been questioned. It was contended that the principle for which they were fighting was the same as that which their sons who were fighting in Egypt and elsewhere to-day would uphold. It behoved Mr Semple to table his evidence before casting reflections on the loyalty of the men, said the statement issued after the meeting.