APOLOGY

Maoriland Worker, Volume 12, Issue 303, 20 December 1922, Page 5

APOLOGY

' I, the undersigned PETER O'KOUEKE, hereby tender to Mr. 'JOSEPH O'BRIEN, of Huntly, Secretary of the Taupiri and Extended Miners' Unions, an apol,ogy for the statements made by mc in a circular addressed to the Miners' Unions of New Zealand, joii the 13 th day of January, 1922. ITlie statements were as follows:— ! I liave also received a report ■• from Executive member Smith, j that the Huntly Union carried a j resolution affirming no-confid-i euee in the Federation Execu- ! live, and the Secretary, Joe [ O'Brien, moved a resolution ! that a ballot be taken- on formS iftg a North Island Miners' Federation. The Chairman refused to take it until new business came before the meeting. These kind of tactics coming- from Mr. O'Brien must be deplored in consequence of the fact that he \ has held office on the New Zealand Executive practically ever ' since its inception, and I think { alt genuine Unionists in the \ Federation will realise the I treachery of his actions at this , particular juncture. If Mr. 1 O'Brien'wants to help the bossers, let. him be honourable and ( leave the official position he nov/ holds as Secretary of the [ Hur.tiy Miners' Union, and not play the part of Peter Criidge,----f as depicted in Upton Sinclair \s ! book, "The 100 per cent."; I then we could at least say he \ liacl the'courage of his-convic-tions ! ' I now admit that the above statements were made by mc on insufficient information, and accordingly they are now withdrawn ; and I elesire to express my sincere regret for the same. I aUo elesire to add that these' statements were made without the authority or knowledge of the National Executive of the Coal, Gold, Shale, Quarry and Tunnel Workers' Federation. PETER (VROURKE, : • Secretary, Coal, Gold, Shale, Quarry and Tmanel Work-

era . Federation