WORKERS URGED TO RESIST

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 185, 2 May 1940, Page 10

WORKERS URGED TO RESIST

Employers’ Patriotic Fund Drives UNION SECRETARY’S CIRCULAR Resentment Expressed In Commercial Circles

A circular letter from Air. E. B. Newton, secretary of the Wellington Clothing Trades Industrial Union of Workers, has been sent to members of the union urging them to refrain from participating in any scheme of employers to raise money for patriotic purposes. The circular, which has been received in Wellington softgoods houses with indignation, is the subject of strong comment by representatives of the commercial community.

Mr. Newton's circular is as follows. "Members arc urged not to participate in any scheme of employeis to raise money for patriotic purposes. AU such schemes are bad from a union point of view. During the last, war the employers got all the credit for the money subscribed by their workers. It was cheap publicity for them ami some of them took advantage of the position to avoid giving themselves. "\lreadv some members have been asked to agree that 3d. a week should be deducted from their wages—others have been asked to work on Saturday mornings and authorize their employer to pay the overtime to a patriotic “Insist'on getting every penny ot the wa~cs vou earn. Let Hie employers be patriots at their own expense—not yours. If deduction from wages_ is ‘once permitted, there is no knowing where it will stop. ' “If you wish to subscribe for patriotic purposes that is entirely your own affair—not the union's and not tlm employers’—but. if you subscribe, do so independently in your own E. B. NEWTON. Secretary. Wellington Clothing Trades Industrial Union of workers.

REPLY BY EMPLOYERS’ REPRESENTATIVE

Asked if he had seen a copy of the circular, Mr. A. W. Nisbet, secretary of the Wellington Softgoods Mimutacturers’ Industrial Union of Employers, said yesterday that he bad a number of copies from justly-indi p nant members of bis organization, ineidentallv he added, the indignation apiieared to be just as high among the workers as among the employers. ‘•’lt is most regrettable, said ML Nisbet, “that Mr. Newton should have seen tit to issue such a circular. As lie himself was on active service during the last war his attitude is aL tut more inexplicable. Many of the emplovers on whom Mr. Newton so unjustly easts a slur also served during the last war, and as a result of that service they realize just what tlie extra comforts provided by the patriotic funds mean lo men on active service. It ill becomes anyone living todav in security in New Zealand to obstruct the efforts of those who are trying to raise funds for the comfort of troops overseas. . “I have in my possession seieial letters from the National Patriotic Fund Board and tlie Red Cross thanking members of my organization and their staffs for assistance in Red Cross ana Patriotic Fund efforts; I have also seen similar letters prominently displayed in the dining-rooms in some of our factories, so that there is just as little justification for .Mr. Newton’s suggestion that the employers get Hie credit for money subscribed 'by workers as there is for the rest of his untimely and. ill-considered circular.”

CHALLENGE ISSUED TO

SECRETARY

“Speaking ,us president ot tlie Wellington Chamber of Commerce, and also as one actively associated with patriotic work, I may say 1 read this circular by Mr. Newton with surprise and disgust?’ said Mr. it. H. Nimmo yesterday. "When Hie country is doing its best in Hie war effort and our men are going overseas to join their comrades who went before them a discordant note of this kind, which would be unjustifiable in any circumstances, comes more than ever reprehensible. “Mr. Newton makes vague a-leg.it ions about tlie actions o'f employers in the last war; allegations which lie make* no attempt whatever to substantiate, and I' am sure he could not do so. tc is a disgraceful allegation to make against the employers who are doing a very great deal financially to help the national war effort. “In conclusion, I think I might go so far as to challenge Mr. Newton to substantiate Hie very grave suggestion he has put forward about employer* and to produce chapter and verse ami name Hie firms who in Hie past appeal to have been the cause of Ids present indiscreet and ill-considered circular.

SUBVERSIVE ELEMENTS AND WAR EFFORT

(To Hie Editor.) Sir. —As Hie father of a soldier who is with Hie second echelon, may I. claim Hie privilege of piiblisihing my views on what appears to me to be a matter of vital importance to Hie country and tlie Empire. I refer to the lack of definite action on Hie part of Hie Government to deal with Hie flood oi subversive literature which is besmirching tlie fair name of New Zealand. May I say that I was amazed on glancing over a copy of Hie latest issue of tlie Communists’ official paper to timl Hull its lone has not been blunted by the recent Court action against it. and Hull: it openly proclaims on its streel poster that it is Hie paper of which Hie Government is afraid. I am only concerned Hint in view of llie matter contained in Hint paper from time to time, that tlie boast may he true: otherwise how does it come about Hint such publications have not been bani|ed. as they have in most other countries on Hie side of Hie Allies? True. Hie Government has threatened, but its threats seem to lack any solid backing. I had thrust under my dour yesterday a Communist circular entitled “The Real Criminals,” issued by the executive of the Communist Varty in

New Zealand, and published at tlie ..nice of the Communist newspaper a; Auckland. The "real criminals m this case are. the circular stale*, “those who are ready to drne the people of New Zealand wdly-njlly into the slauglilerhouse ol impeluihst m.h .-it Hie bidding of their masters in Loudon .... those who are ready to shatier every vestige of democratic Hehl in New Zealand in order to prevent Hie expression of any opposition : to their war policy." If this is not subversive stuff of (be most corrosive order, I don't know what is. It is intolerable that such Hungs should be. Of what is Hie Government afraid Hint it does not take the a.-Hon it promised so recently?—l am. etc., FATHER OF A SOLDIER. I Wellington; April 30.