LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 115, 8 February 1919, Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THE "LOCO." MEN'S GRIEVANCES "Sir, —In. your issues of February"6 and 7 you, in my opinion, do myself an injustice. perhaps tininlcntioually, but, nevertheless, I consider the injustice is there. You state that I have been threat- ■ ening strike in my statements to your [e paper. Now, Sir, I am merely the secretary of the organisation, and take my " instructions. from tlio executive, and d Statements are issued from them, g- On February 5 one of your reporters rang mo. up on the telephone' and asked mq what was doing iji the loco, men's dis,pute. I explained to . him what iC I considered was the true- posiit tioii and what the members of the orit ganisation had in their minds for fu<l ture action. For doing this, you heap (I abuse upon my head. I have never on d any occasion stated my-own opinions in d regard to the dispute, being careful to s. etate exactly what the members were if going to do. 0 T have also intimated that the-public it should know what is going on, and rake u a hand, as the organisation has no fear e of any tribunal dealing with their case, d You stated oil .February-6 that my talk' u was "hot air." I asked one of your a reporters to come down to Thorndon and t have a talk with the ■ loco. men, , and g he did so. I think lie will': bear a me out that he. heard more than .strike if talked by _ the men, and' said lie was d quite convinced that sumething was dos ing, I am particularly anxious that is something should be done to prevent a r strike of the locomotive men,-and t feel ;, sure that public opinion, when" in posn session of the full facts, will bring press sure to bear, \vjiie)\ will lieln me. if I gave you. full particulars of tho • e men's case on February. 6, and you will d see that the men. have been-long* sufferd ing: and very patient. For' some ;cons siderable time, there has been a grow- •- ing feeling amongst the members that t they would' have to fight for their-"rights e if they were ever to set those rights, t Perhaps my method of preventing a r strike does not appeal to you. It will g j save me 11111011 work if the men's case is e not brousht before the public, but what :l 1 will be the oonscnuences of working, in e ! the dark? The Executive Council bee ; lieves- in- publicity,., thereby taking the t i public into th»ir confidence —I. am, "etc., tj vW. M|VRLEY, Secretary.