MR. SEMPLE’S OFFER

Grey River Argus, 19 June 1936, Page 5

MR. SEMPLE’S OFFER

TO CANCEL AGREEMENT For Motueka Critics (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June IS. Stating that the New Zealand Public Works Agreement was the best one in the British Empire, if not the best one in the world, Hon. R. Semple to-day make a vigorous reply to a series of resolutions carried by the Alotueka Branch of the New Zealand Workers’ Union in condemnation generally of the new Agreement. One of those resolutions stated: “The new Agreement is of no advantage to tile workers, who were responsible for Air Semple’s elevation to Alluisterial rank.”

Mr Semple said that he was astonished to road such tin uncharitable, unreasonable and callous resoluLon. He could not believe that the rank and file men working on the job knew anything about it, though certainly they had been responsible for allowing it to go out in their name. However, he had the power to cancel all- or part, of the Agreement as it applied to any locality, and he would give the. Motueka Branch fourteen days in which to show reasons why its members should remain parties to the J'ublic Woiks Agreement, ■which they had condemned and had attempted to ridicule; or whether they should go back to the old rates that were operating before the Agreement came into existence. \lr Semple added that he was prepared to do all that he could to help bona fide workers to earn the. maximum that they were capable of; but he was not going to tolerate unjristifiable abuse l.y irresponsible individuals. who seemed determined to embarrass and to obstruct the Government in its effort to play the game by honest men.