REMARKS RESENTED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26779, 24 May 1948, Page 4

REMARKS RESENTED

TRADE UNION COUNCIL

CRITICISM OF WORKERS BUILDING SOCIETY PRESIDENT P.A. INVERCARGILL, May 23. Strong exception was taken at the annual meeting of the Southland Trades Council last night to remarks made bv Mr H. Ritchie, president of the Southland Building Society, when addressing the annual meeting of the society. Mr Ritchie suggested that present-day high costs were caused primarily by the failure of many workers to give a fair day's work and that the suspension of unionism for a year or two might “help us to regain our equilibrium.” One delegate said that Mr Ritchies attack on trades unions was reminiscent of the attacks made by Mussolini and Hitler before they abolished trades unions in their countries. It was decided that the press committee of the council should prepare a statement replying to Mr Ritchie’s allegations. Mr T. P. Hackett, president of the Ocean Beach Freezing Workers’ Union, said that killings at the works had increased from 600 to 900 a day with practically the same number of men. He added that the men were doing a good job and strongly resented Mr Ritchie's allegations. Mr F. Vella, representing the Bluff Waterside Workers’ Union, said that this attack, coming from a man of Mr Ritchie's outstanding ability, was very regrettable. It had greatly incensed trade unionists.