THE SECRETARY OF LABOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2730, 11 July 1906, Page 13

THE SECRETARY OF LAB OUR.

A COMPLAINT BY THE EMPLOYERS'

FEDERATION.

The following is a -copy of a letter forwarded by the New Zealand Employers' Federation to the Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Premier : —

Dear Sir. — I have been instructed by" the Advisory Board of the New Zealand Em-, ployers' Federation to draw your attention, as Minister of Labour, to a letter which appeared in a recent issue of the Beacon, a typewritten copy of which is enclosed. The letter is a copy of on* written by Mr Tregear, Secretary of Labour, and addressed to a Mr Benson, in America, in which the writer claims to be the leader of a. Socialistic crusade against the employers of the colony, the employers being characterised as " robbers " and tho woikers as their " victims." The letter further states that "we have barely touched the fringe of the .soiled economio garment. So long as the wage" system endures, so long as capital holds the land, machinery, and other means of production, so long is the bulk of our population only a colleotion of well-fed, well-clothed slaves."

The board is aware of the fact that Mr Tregear, while publicly admitting th« authorship, claims it to be privileged owing to its being a private letter addressed to -& friend. With this aspect of *the question employers ' are not concerned; they are concerned, how-, ever, to know that the responsible head of a* department — one of the most important de-~ partments of the public service — holds the views therein expressed and publicly acknowledged. A copy of the letter was posted by the Advisory Board to the various Employers' Associations affiliated with the federation for their individual opinions, every one of which, without exception, replied strongly protesting against a public officer promulgating a. Socialistic crusade, which, in<*Hieir opinion, ia 1 antagonistic to the laws he is supposed to administer and the best interests of the colony. Some of the associations point out that the present instance is not the only one where Mr Tregear's views ha,ve been in conflict with th« position he occupies, but, bfjing so proi nounced, it cannot be overlooked. ,*'* . t % The federation as a body is st^kgly of |h^ opinion that a person holding such views' is totally unfitted to hold so responsible a, position as that of Secretary o| labour. Sh^ position, in its opinion, is y one- that «flls for strict impartiality, tact judgment, ajid sound common sense, so that the balance may,, be held fairly between employers^ and employees, and the holder of the position should be one who possesses the entire confidence of all parties. In the light of the views expressed in the letter, and the lines laid down in it as to Mr Tregear's^uture course of action, the employers of the colony feel that they are entitled to some consideration in , the matter, and that under the circumstances they are justified in demanding Mr Tr-eg«ar > 9.removal from his present position. — I remain, «tc. William Scott, •. Secretary N.Z. Employers' Federation.

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