"SPORTSMANLIKE FIGHT."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17461, 4 May 1920, Page 6

"SPORTSMANLIKE FIGHT."

CLAIM OF ENGINEDRIVERS.

MESSAGE TO THE PUBLIC. It TftEGBATH.— ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, Monday. • The executive of the Locomotive Enginodrivers, Firemen, and, Cleaners' .Association made the following statement this afternoon:—

'" A settlement of the strike having been agreed upon, the executive council trusts the people of New Zealand will recognise that we have endeavoured 43 put up^ja plean and sportsmanlike fight. _ Even in the negotiations the Prime Minister will readily admit that conciliation permeated the proceedings before him. At no time did the association use the " Big S.ick." This fight has been the first railway strike in New Zealand of men who are almost to a man New Zealand-born.

"We considered, and still consider, i.hat our caisc was a just one. We thank the people (or the sportsmanlike manner in which they received the inconvenience imposed upon them, and most heartily because they were in no way instrumental in bringing about _the strike. We thank them also for kindly sympathy. We recognise fully the great principle which actuated those who refused to ran the trains which were not manned by members of the .union. We have every hope that In the future good feelrng will exist, and that the railways will be run by the Government and meu in the best interests of the whole of the people of New Zealand."