" GHOULISH ACT."

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14829, 21 November 1913, Page 11

" GHOULISH ACT."

BRICKLAYERS' UNION ACCUSED. CALLOUS INDIFFERENCE TO SUFFERING. An illustration of the callous indifference of the strikers towards . the effects of their strike has been given by tho refusal of the Bricklayers' Unioa to permit-thirty bricklayers and labourers engaged on absolutely necessary enlargement work at the Mental ; Hospital to return to work (telegraphs the Auckland correspondent of tho Wellington "Post").

;; A.letter has been "written to the .Press upon the matter by Mr F.G. Ewington, an official visitor, to the hos- ,. .pital, who states that <on ' November .iOth.Dr. E. M. Bcattio, medical super- ■ iatendent, wrote a semi-private note to Mr Gibson, formerly an attendant at the Mental.Hospital and now secretary ,-■ of .the Bricklayers' Union,. asking for .a permit for the bricklayers who had been called out from work, to continue the .hospital extension, so .as to avoid unnecessary delay in providing relief ;from overcrowdinc Dr. Beattie pointed out that thq patients, through overcrowding, were sleeping in noisy 'and draught j corridors; that"9s per cent, of the pafa'ente belonged to the working class: that probably every nnion in had some of its members or xelativee as. patients in the hospital; •• and; that no good-purpose could be spryed in calling out the bricklayera and.labourers as .had been"done. Dr. Beattie appealed- on humanitarian grounds, and begged for even one-tohelp him complete the job which the staff was working on for an immediate increase of accommodation The union curtly declined the' requestß, saying: "The Bricklayers' Union cannot grant your.request." reeling keenly thp cruelty of such a decision, Dr. Beattie sent a letter in which he remarked:—

the special circumstances I regret* your decision, which 1 regard as ; infamous. It is the first time within myJmowledge in history, warfare,-or "vrife,-industrial or otherwise, in a fully cmhsed community, that the argent claims of human suffering have ■ been so ruthlessly set aside. • ■•■;.'■ 'Such an action ought , to cover your : tmion with public contempt. It is an r - action such as yonrs which entirely' r≤ auenatea the sympathy .of honourable i>; , and reasonable men, and rightly co. \ ;f' '1 cannot, however, imagine that .; as a body has arrived it ;■> 'the decision, which jou have conveyed ~ to mc, as every union I know, is com- - posed of a big majority of sane and ...-' desomng men. '..■•. ■ . . 4c The decision lam satisfied is that of a ghoulish few, who are prepared* to ignore and actually laugh. at human affliction in execution of a vindictive purpose." ... ...'■•