RECALCITRANT LABOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 11 February 1930, Page 5

RECALCITRANT LABOUR

DISTURBED MEETING

(Australian Press Association)

(Received this day at 11 a.m.)

SYDNEY, Feb. 11

Mr Theodore, Federal Treasurer and .Mr Blauely, Minister of Home Affairs, made impassioned appeals to the Labour Conlcreiice for moderation of their policy, but were subjected to much interruption. One delegate declared if the Ministry could 'not do more for the workers, tiie sooner it went out the better. This was the Tramways representative, Air Ward, who said the Government saved the manufacturers hundreds of thousands of pounds with its tariff, but when it came to assisting tiie miners, it gave a paltry £7OOO with apologies. Air Theodore was heard quiety at first. He outlined the discussion between the Federal Parliamentarians and the State Labour Executive and the miners representatives, which resulted- in a decision. A public debate was at present undesirable, the miners maintaining a close contact with the Government, but no further action should be taken at this stage. “If the Federal Government had done wrong, the miners would be the first to charge it,” said Mr Theodore. “It was true there had been criticism of the Ministry but the worst charges came from irresponsible quarters. Since the Government hud come into office it had at least twenty conferences with the representatives of the Labour bodies.” A voice: ‘’‘Without results.” Air Theodore; “With results.” (Uproar.)

Air Theodore: “There is one man who could have ended the trouble months ago, and could do it now. That man is Air Bavin.” Cries of “Rubbish” and cheers and protests followed preventing a continuance of the speech.

Mr Blakely also appealed- to the conference not to indulge in recriminations. “You have known me long enough,” he declared, “to admit 1 never baulked at a scrap.”