FURNITURE WORKERS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1536, 4 September 1912, Page 3

FURNITURE WORKERS.

MR. MORIARTY REPLIES TO MR.. FISIIEK, Mr. Moriarty writes:—l was very pleased to note that Mr. Fisher attempted to defend himself and his Department from tho allegation's made by me, on behalf of the New' Zealand Furniture Federation, because in attempting to do so he has confirmed my opinion about his alleged fitness'for the position lie holds. I refer, of course, to his statement that he is having tho fullest inquiries made by his Department, and when he has full information at his disposal he will confer with the Prime Minister. Why, then, did I.e write , to me, or instruct his Department to do so, without having full information •in tho first place, and why is it necessary for him to now confer with the Prime Minister? A.i regards our appeal to have the regulation cancelled which allows the use of pyridine, why need Mr. Fisher put (he country to the expense of fending officers to the various shops for information, in view of the statement riiade in his explanation to the effect thot alter considering tho represent-itions of manufacturers a few years ago, the Department had approved of a finish without pyridine, so that the alleged evil r<> suits from its use might be prevented? Now, as regards his statement that had I taken tho trouble of a ten minutes' interview would/have cleared the atmosphere, will Mr. Fishnr deny that this was what I suggested after ho had a letter from the secretary of the Auckland branch of our federation in his possession for a week ? Did Mr." Fisher not tell mo to write him officially instead?. I may say I did as requested, and wrote as secretary of the Furniture Federation, not of the Wellington Furniture Union. AVhy then does Mr. Fisher try to side-step tivi issue by challenging mo to give specific instances of men having suffered in. the Wellington district? Mr. Fisher also states thnt his Department lias only had one cjiso referred to it, and that the case of one man in Auckland. Well, I might tell Mr. Fisher that if he looks up Iris Departmental files he will find another letter there (and this on«, by tho way, from the Wellington district.) in which complaint is mado by the factory manager of one of tho largest factories in our district, as to nil his polishers being away from work through the effects of pyridine. What is more, his Department answered the letter and I have a copy of same. I could give many more -ares in Wellington, but wlr.it is tlie use? Wo do not look to Mr. l-'ishor for redress. The Prime Minister has undertaken that duty, and we look to him to act at once in the matter and eo alleviate the sufferings of our workers.