NOT FOREIGN INSPIRED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22588, 17 March 1948, Page 6

NOT FOREIGN INSPIRED

CARPENTERS’ DISPUTE

(P.A.) AUCKLAND. March 16. A denial that the carpenters’ dispute was part of “a world-wide and foreignsponsored movement to overthrow all the accepted forms of law and order,” as recently stated by the secretary of the Electrical Workers’ Union, Mr. G. Albright, was made by the secretary of the Auckland Carpenters’ Union, Mr D. McEwen.

He said Mr. Albright had presumed to pronounce judgment on the merits of the carpenters’ dispute not only in opposition to the decision of the Auckland Trades Council but also contrary to the national council of the Federation of Labour which had unanimously resolved that the carpenters had a just case and would support them by every means in its power to effect a satisfactory settlement. It was a recognised convention in the trade union movement that when a union discussed a matter concerning another trade union, the union discussed was invited to send a representative to state its position, said Mr. McEwen. Had this been done by the Electrical Workers’ Union the suggestion that the carpenters’ dispute was part of “a world-wide foreignsponsored movement" would have been laughed out of the meeting room.