THE TRAMWAYS STRIKE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26793, 9 June 1948, Page 6

THE TRAMWAYS STRIKE

Sir, —In answer to “ Citizen’s ” letter anyone can guess what side he is on. 1 admire our members of Parliament. He says he hopes Mr Anderson will be Mi Connolly’s opponent—” don't make me laugh.” Does not " Citizen ” think Mff Anderson has made enough trouble already? In conclusion, next time he writes tc the paper let him sign his name, not hide under a nom de plume; it is the act of a coward.—l am, etc., R. Hall.

Sir,—There are five letters in to-day’s issue on the above subject. All the writers blame the tramway workers fox the stoppage. There is not one word 6/ criticism of the 12 councillors and the Mayor for deliberately provoking the workers to take action in defence of theii moral and legal rights. The Laboui M.P.’s did the right thing in standing by the' men in their fight. It is the first duty of a Labour member of Parliament to support the workers who put them into the positions they occupy in their struggles with their employers, to maintain the rights won alter many years of severe struggle. As for the convenience of the public, did the City Council take that into consideration when it decided to support unanimously the provocative action of the chairman of the Transport Committee? After all, the proper conduct of civic undertakings rests with the elected authorities, and those occupying the positions at present cannot be complimented on tneir ability to govern.—l am, etc., M. Silverstone.

Sir, —In Monday’s Daily Times you quote an interview btween Mr Fraser and a United Press correspondent. In this article, headed “ Defeat of Communism,” Mr Fraser says: "New Zealand Labour . . . Is utterly opposed to the Communist doctrine of dictatorship and the use of force.” Apparently he was forgetting the character of our tram strike, and the actions of himself, his Minister of Labour, and his local members who not only surrendered to force, but actually encouraged it. Is the Mr Fraser who uttered the above words the same one who, in the Maoriland Worker of 9/6/1920, said: "All working class activity must be based on the class war . . . the workers had to capture the State. The Labour Party was based on the class struggle. It did not aim at palliatives.” Of course, I know people may change their opinions, but does the leopard really change his spots? 1 hope the United Presscorrespondent has an opportunity to.compare Mr Fraser’s actions with his words.— I am, etc., ••• >.• Dad.