“SHAMEFUL STRIKES”

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23970, 10 June 1943, Page 3

“SHAMEFUL STRIKES”

CRITICISM BY FARMERS’ UNION PRESIDENT “ The Press" Special Service DUNEDIN, June 8. Strong criticism was levelled by Mr D. H. Cockburn in his presidential address to the annual conference of the Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union to-day against the attitude of certain sections of the community which, he said, continued to dominate the Government and to stampede departmental heads into giving way on every occasion. “I refer to the shameful strikes which have taken place over recent months,” Mr Cockburn said. “To take advantage of a situation such as exists at present, with the prime of the country’s manhood abroad fighting for the existence of the Empire and civilisation, and with the great majority of conscientious citizens doing their best under war-time conditions, is a despicable thing. The great majority of our Dominion workers are thoroughly decent people who would not think of using such tactics,” Mr Cockburn said. “If the authorities had the courage to lock up just a few of the undesirable agitators, who are not worthy of a footing in such a country as this, all our internal troubles would disappear, and the Government would be free to legislate along sound lines.” No objection, he added, could be raised to trade unionism which was conducted on reasonable lines, as only under the direction of extremists was it dangerous.