An Explanation

Northern Advocate, 31 August 1938, Page 7

An Explanation

In our issue of Saturday last, wo referred to a stop-work meeting held by Harbour Board employees engaged on drainage operations. We reported! that Mr Fraser, the board’s secretary-engineer, had said the men's action was taken at the instigation of their union secretary, Mr F. Ward, over the dismissal of one of their number. This .report, we are informed, gives a wrong impression of the incident. What Mr Fraser intended to convey, he says, was that the union secretary was the only man with whom he had had official contact in connection with the matter, not that Mr Ward 1 had instigated the stop-work meeting.

It appears that one of the men engaged on the drainage works was dismissed by the board’s foreman. Mr Ward got in touch with Mr Fraser, and the latter obtained the consent of the Labour Department to the man’s transfer to another job, which is being carried out under the Borough Council. Messrs. Ward and Fraser saw the workmen, to -whom the position was explained and cheerfully accepted. In view of the report originally printed in the “Advocate,” we feel that it is only fair to Mr Ward that this explanation should be made.