"WHY I RESIGNED."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17881, 8 September 1921, Page 6

"WHY I RESIGNED."

MR MGCULLOUGH'B CASE.

BREACH OF COVENANT.

STABILISING PRONOUNCEMENT.

[VY TBLEaRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHEISTCHURCH. Wednesday.

With reference to his resignation of the position of Labour member of the Arbitra- ' tian Court, Mr. J. A. McCullough has sent the following letter to Mr. Roberts, secretary of the Alliance of Labour Conference now sitting in Wellington:— *' Dear Sir,-—! desire to make known to members of tfie conference and all other trade unionists the fact that I have felt it necessary to tender my resignation as a member of the Arbitration Court. With a view to removing" any feeling that may arise in the minds of workers that I have acted hastily or deseited in the face of the enemy, I submit to you She reasons which actuated me in what I have done.

** The Court has decided to "reduce the wages of shearers and shed hands by approximately 30 per cent. This appears to me to be audi a flagrant reversal of the Court's pronouncement to stabilise wages that I felt that the ordinary dissenting judgment which I have recorded is quite inadequate to meet what I believe to bo an absolute betrayal by the Court of the working people of this country. " 1 remember well the shock of disappointment occasioned by the Court's re>nsal to honour the promise of the 9s bonus for November of last year, and which it eventually / reduceri to 3s, plus 2s, said to be held in a sort of susoense account. That, in my opinion, is But a circumstance compared with the present happening. At the next six-monthly period a further 3s accrced bonus was shown to be necessary, making 5s then due. This was again withheld and carried forward (in the employers' pockets) to the credit of the workers, who were assured that in lieu of this payment wages would be stabilised and no reduction in wagns made until April 30, 1922. WJiile not approving this proposal as a whole, I was persuaded to accept it without dissent because I had unbounded confidence in the promise, «i uiy two colleagues that it secured the workers absolutely agtinst any reduction of wages during that period. I want to emphasise this point because it was solely on account of this ' gentleman's agreement,' which it was impossible for us to put in writing because to do so would have deprived the employers of their statutory right to appeal to_ the Court for reductions in accordance with the Government Statistician's figuie* To put \t another way, I had gambled with the workers' means of life because I had unbounded confidence in the integrity and honour of my two colleojrues "t> the Court. Indeed I have stated to representative trade unionists and at several meetings that if such a breach of covenant should occur, as has now occurred, I would refuse any longer to be associated with a tribunal so reckless of a promise made. I know expressions used in the stabilising pronouncement that the Con-t would not depart from it except ' extraordinary circpmFtances ' were shown may be used against me to prove that no irach unwritten nnd«rstand : ng as I allege was ever made. I repeat with emphasis that this solemn undertaking was given to me, that it was this undertaking which firnllv induced me to concur without open dissent in the withholdfng of the 53 -bonus, and that it is the flagrant breach of, this agreement which has compelled me-to take the step I have done in sacrificing the position I have always been proud to occupy. " But, aga'n, even assuming that the written pronouncement alone is considered no justifying ' extraordinary circumstances' whatever were shown to have arisen since the making of it. On the contrary, wool prices are now higher than tbey were then. " In conclusion, may I say I appreciate very fully all the kindness that has been shown to me during my term of office '

FILLING THE VACANCY.

MR. REARDON SUMMONED.

[BY TELEGRAPH —PRESB ASSOCIATION.!

WELLINGTON. W«dne«day.

Mr. M. J. Reardon has been summoned to fill Mr. McCullough's place in the Arbitration Court.