MEETING AT PETONE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1907, 15 November 1913, Page 6

MEETING AT PETONE.

CALL FOR LEGISLATION. TIRADE FROM A MINISTER. art A meeting to consider the strike position was held in the Petone Recreation Ground last night. The gathering was a fairly large one, and was called by the Mayor of Petone (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) at the request "of some citizens. ' • ■ ' Mr. M'Ewan said that it would be bad for the district if the fight was prolonged. The public had a right to demand that Parliament should set up a tribunal to settle the matter. Mr'. J. Piper moved, and Mr.- B. C. Warnes seconded: "That this meeting of Hutt electors, in view of the deadlock now existing between the employers and the Federation of Labour, tending to indefinitely prolong the present industrial crisis, hereby calls upon the Government to immediately adopt such legislation as will terminate the dispute in an honourable and constitutional manner." The Rev. P. Wainwright declared that this \us the first citizens' meeting held. Not one was allowed to bo held in Wellington. "When Mr. Hislop mado that admirable suggestion, Mr. Luke turned it clown." Mr. Wainwright decried the daily Press, from which, he said, it was impossible for tho public to ascertain tho true position with regard to 'rho strike. The English press during heated party battles was absolutely white compared with the Now Zealand Press during the present strike. It was a dangerous thing for a parson to get up against tho Press. .Mr. Brainsby did, and he suffered for it. Thoy know what 'The Dominion said of Mr. Brainsby. They read Mr. Brainsby's explanation. And Tite Dominion had 'not tho gentlemanliness to say that they mado a mistake and were sorry for it. When Mr. Tregear mado his explanation The Dominion styled it as "ingenious," and had not the manliness to say that it was a very easy thing for that mistako to be made, and that they accepted his explanation. The resolution' was carried without dissent. [The remarks of tho Rev. P. Wainwright quoted above are hardly worth noting savo for tho fact that he appears to. labour under the delusion that his friends, the Rev. Mr. Brainsby and Mr. E. Trcgear, were treated with undue harshness. We should liko to correct him on that point. The conduct of both tho gentlemen named in connection with the strike warranted a much moro severe castigation than they actually received. Wo have- no wish to reopen these matters, but if either of tho gontlomon named wish to do so our columns arc at their disposal, as they always havo been, and we shall be'pleased to supplement whatever observations they may choose to. make.]