MR TREGEAR AND THE EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13641, 10 July 1906, Page 5

MR TREGEAR AND THE EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION.

TOR REPLY OP THE PREMIER. (Pf.r United Psess Association.) WELLINGTON. July 9. The Premier, the Hon. W. llall-jones. Ims wniion to the secretary of the New Zealand Employers' Federal ion acknowledging receipt of the letter of the 20th ult. asking that. Mr Tregear should lie removed from otlico as Secretary for Labour on account of the letter he had written lo a friend in Aineveia expressing ccrtain socialistic views. The Premier, in reply, says that the letter referred to was a private one to a friend, thai it was not signed by Mr Tregear m his ollicin! capacity, Ihat tho supposed copy of the letter is not a trim copy, sentences written by Mr Tregear having been omitted and other sentences inserted. Mr llall-Jones gives examples of this, and says-that "lo wrest.■ from the letter an aitac-l: on tho New Zealand Employers' Federation is perverse and unwarranted. No accusation." concludes the Premier, "or even inference lias hitherto reached the Government that Mr Tregear has failed in carrying out his official duties with discretion and impartiality. I cannot concur in ihe principle you- expound that the Government has a right lo intm'fcvc with (lie private expression of personal opinions held by its officers. _ Under tho circumstances I do not consider it to he my duty to tako tho action you surrgest."