MINERS REBUKED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25456, 10 February 1944, Page 4

MINERS REBUKED

WAR EFFORT IMPEDED VIEW OF LABOUR CAUCUS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 9. Miscellaneous subjects were discussed by the members of the Parliamentary Labour Party at their caucus to-day. These included stabilisation, price control, and the rationing system, including the proposed rationing of meat. The caucus, which extended over two days, concluded in the late afternoon. The Prime Minister, Mr P. Fraser, said this evening that the caucus, which was the first he had attended since the general election, had been an excellent one. There had, he added, never been a better spirit among the Labour members, nor greater enthusiasm for their principles and cause. Mr Fraser said the question of implementing the three years’ programme which the Labour Party had placed before the electors in September, and which had been endorsed by the country, had occupied the greater part of the proceedings. Other administrative questions were also given close attention. The war effort in its various phases was also discussed. On the question of rationing, the Prime Minister said, the opinion of the caucus was definite that New Zealanders should share the commodities they possessed fairly with their kith and kin in Great Britain. Mr Fraser specially referred to the difficult task of the Minister of Labour, Mr P. C. Webb, and the fine manner in which he had discharged his duties, never sparing himself night or day in an endeavour to keep the machinery of industry turning normally. It was regrettable that certain industrial workers had not shown' an appreciation of the Minister’s magnificent efforts on their behalf and that of the country. The Minister still had difficulties, but. Mr Fraser said, he had confidence that these would be adjusted in a sensible way. With a full recognition of the difficult and onerous work of the coal miners, Mr Fraser said, the caucus felt that if those employed at the Strongman and Liverpool mines, as well as others who had engaged in industrial strife, understood that tflieir attitude and actions were hindering the war effort and threatening to destroy in large measure what was being done to help the United Nations and the men, women, and children of Great Britain they would abandon their obstructionist tactics and throw themselves Hie art and soul into the task ahead in the fight for freedom, which, at best, would last for a number of years yet. The continued and unabated confidence expressed in all the members of the Cabinet, said Mr Fraser, was most satisfactory as an indication of the ,unity, confidence, and comradeship in The ranks of the party. The Prime Minister thanked the members of the caucus for their unanimous expression of confidence and trust expressed in his absence through illness from the caucus in October. The Government party, he said, was never better qualified to carry out its parliamentary duties and the Governmental work of the country than at the present moment.