Wharfies Must Withdraw Scurrilous Communication

Chronicle (Levin), 2 April 1949, Page 6

Wharfies Must Withdraw Scurrilous Communication

WELLINGTON, Apiil 1. The ' New Zealand Federation of Labour in a letter to the Wellington Waterside Workers' Union has reaffiinued its intention of refusing to liold any idiscussions with the national executive of the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Union until -it received an apology and a withdrawal of "the scurrilous communication" receutly sent to the Federation. The. Wellingtoh union at a spec'ai

stopwork on Tuesday called on the Federation of Labour and' the Wellington Trades Council to hold speciaLmeetings to discuss ' ' the' attacks made on. their national offieers by the president of the Wellington Trades' Council (Mr. F. P. Walsh.) " The ■ Federation, xeplying, reiterated that it had on March 17 written to the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Union requesting the apology and withdrawal, and added that the Wellington union as a branch of an affiliation was. not competent in itself to demand the calling of a special meeting. The Federation 's letter was signed b'y its national secretary (Mr. K. McL. Baxter). In a joint statement commenting on Mr McLagan 's ultimatum to.- the New Zealand Waterside Worker's Union, the' president of the union (Mr. H. Barnes) an dthe secretary (Mr. T. Hill) said it was regrettable that tlie Minister had seen fit to present his ultimatum to the Press before the Waterside Workers'* Union had even had time to consider it.J "However the answer to questions snbmitted in the Minister 's letter will be given to the proper people, namely the New Zealand waterside workers, the statement continued. "We have not yet reached the stage where a Doctor Ley governs the trade unions of New Zealand. The national executive of the organisation will be meeting early next week and reports given to Tnembersf"