Corperaters1 Dispute Ist Political Strike1

Northern Advocate, 18 March 1948, Page 6

Corperaters 1 Dispute Ist Political Strike 1

WELLINGTON, Thu, (Sp.).—The Minister of Labour (Mr McLagan) said last night that the carpenters’ dispute was “the first political strike.” He was addressing a meeting of the North Canterbury Labour Representation Committee. The Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) was at the meeting. The secretary of the Canterbury Carpenters’ Union (Mr F. L. Langley) condemned Mr McLagan for refusing t Q set up a tribunal to settle the dispute. The Minister replied that the carpenters had already refused to abide by the decision of a tribunal — the Arbitration Court. Mr Fraser warned workers in their choice of industrial leaders. The Prime Minister spoke of the Communist tactics of taking any matter in dispute and magnifying it out of all proportion with the deliberate purpose of trying to split the Labour movement. A resolution was carried expressing complete confidence in the Prime Minister, the Minister of Labour, and the Labour Government, and calling on all working - class organisations and people to remain loyal to the Labour Government. WeJSmgf’on Drivers Support Strikers WELLINGTON. Thu. (P.A.)—A resolution supporting the action of the New Zealand Workers’ Union in the Mangakino strike was passed at the annual meeting last night of the Wellington Drivers' Union. The meeting, which was addressed by the vice-president of the New Zealand Federation of Labour (Mr W. B. Richards) also decided to approach the New Zealand Transport Workers’ Federation asking it to investigate the position and to seek support for the Workers’ Union from all affiliations of the Transport Federation.