MR TREGEAR'S CASE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8666, 5 July 1906, Page 3

MR TREGEAR'S CASE.

DEFENCE BY THE TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL. [Pan Phess Association.] DUNEDIN, July 5. . The executive of the Otago Trades and Labour Council, in a letter to the Press, contend that Mr Tregear must ! be adjudged on his administration of ! the labour laws, and not upon his political or social opinions. The issue is not a civil servant's socialistic or private views, but whether he is entitled to i hold any views at all. Would the Employers' Association demand, they ask, the removal of Sir Robert Stout from j the Judicial Bench < because he holds strong prohibition views, and has to j adjudicate on licensing matters. Yet this is what, in effect, they are asking. A meeting of the Executive Council of the Bootmakers' Federation was held on Monday evening, in the Trades' Hall. The following resolution was carried unanimously : — " That this Council, on behalf of the New Zealand Federated Bootmakers' Union, strongly protests against the action of the Employers' Federation, in its attack upon Mr Tregear k Seeing that the administration of I>he Labour Department has always been fair and impartial, and that Mr Tregear's letter was a private one, and not intended for publication, this Council considers the action of the Employers' Federation unjust and unwarrantable. The resolution is to be forwarded to the Premier. ■ —— /