MINISTERS GET A POOR RECEPTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18992, 11 February 1930, Page 9

MINISTERS GET A POOR RECEPTION.

LEADERS MAKE APPEAL TO MEN TO BE MODERATE

(United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.)

(Received February 11, 11 a.m.) SYDNEY. February 11

Mr Theodore, Federal Treasurer, and Mr Blakeley, Minister for Home Affairs, made impassioned appeals to the Labour Conference for a moderation of its policy, but were subjected to much interruption, one delegate declaring that if the Ministry could not do more for the workers, the sooner it went out the better. This was the Tramways’ representative, Mr Ward, who said that the Goversment had saved the manufacturers hundreds of thousands of pounds with its tariff, but when it came to assisting the miners, it gave a paltry £7OOO with apologies. Mr Theodore was heard quietly at first. He outlined the discussion between the Federal Parliamentarians, the State Labour executive and the miners’ representatives, which resulted in a decision that a public debate was at present undesirable, the miners maintaining close contact with the Government, but no further action should be taken at this stage. If the Federal Government had done wrong, the miners would be the first to charge it, said Mr Theodore.

It was true that there had been criticisms of the Ministry, but the worst charges came from irresponsible quarters. Since the Government had come into office, it had had at least twenty conferences with representatives of Labour bodies. A voice: Without results. Mr Theodore: With results. (Uproar.)

Mr Theodore: There is one man who could have ended the trouble months ago and could do it now. That man is Mr Bavin. Cries of “ rubbish,” cheers and protests followed, preventing a continuance of the speech. Mr Blakeley also appealed to the conference not to indulge in recriminations. “ You have known me long enough,” he declared, “ to admit that I never baulked at a scrap.”