Suspension of a labour leader.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 4, 30 September 1907, Page 6

Suspension of a labour leader.

VIEWS OF MR. A. R. BARCLAY.' THE REGULATIONS EXPLAINED. The case of Mr. J. A. 'M'Cullough is liberally discussed in tlio parliamentary lobbies. It is understood a' (jnestion will bo asked'on tlio subject in the House of Representatives on Wednesday which will give opportunity for further debate and tlio airing of opinions. . . • Mr. A. R.Barclay (Dunedin North), who on Friday was prevented by the Standing Orders from discussing the Premier's statement, has ■ . expressed the following views: — " An analysis of the statement made by the Premier has ratlier a startling result. It will come as a surprise to know that'until April, 1907, tliorc existed' no rule or regulation, under which Mr. M'Cullough could have been dealt with; and, further, .that it is open to tile, gravest doubt whether ho can be dealt with oven under clause 18 of the 1907 regulations. The rulo.which the Government rely upon in this case is No. 22 of the Civil Service Regulations, 1573,. \vliicli is as follows: —' In. order that officers of all ranks may be able to render loyal and eilicient service. . , ■; tlioy aro hereby expressly required not to take any part m political affairs otherwise than by recording their votes at elections, anil every violation of- this regulation will bo forthwith visited with such penalty as the circumstances of the case appear to demand.' This rule docs not I

apply to Mr. M'Cullough for two rca-. sons: (1) The men in the railway workshops aro not included in the Civil Service; and (2), even if they are, this rule only applies to officers, llio railway regulations of 1881 were cited by Sir Joseph Ward as autho-' nty for the Government's action, but, strange to relate, there is not one line or letter in these regulations prohibiting any person in the railway service from taking active part in political mattors. The only other rule oil the question is to he found ill" the railway regulations of April, 1907 J Members are not to take active part in politics beyond recording their votes.' Ilut, as has been said, it ismore, than doubtful if this applies to .Mr. M'Cullotigli's case, because if anyone looks at the regulations as a whole tlioy appear to have been frarei'd to apply only to the men engaged in the trailic and running department. Point is, added to this view nt' the fact that, clauses 2 and- 3, whi«h provide for .the furnishing of other men in the service with copies of rules, especially exempts ' men working exclusively in workshops.' Is. it not a fair inference from the special provisions of theso two clauses, and from the general character of the rules themselves, that they are not intended to. apply to tho'ordinary workmen in tho railway workshops?" At a mooting of the Wellington Branch, of Amalgamated Society of Railway"Servants, the following" resolution M-as carried : — That .this branch hears with regret: of'the suspension of Mr. J.' A. M'Cullough from tho service, and considers, after so many years of loyal .service, the action of the Government wiry hard on tho man whom wo consider a great leader in our union." .