A LOYAL BODY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2122, 1 May 1920, Page 4

A LOYAL BODY.

E.F.C.A. EXECUTIVE WELCOMES THE PRINCE. ACTION FORCED BY “EXCEPTIONALLY DEPLORABLE , CONDITIONS.” As an answer to those who criticise the E.F.C.A. for striking at the present juncture, the executive has made the following statement which contains, inter alia, some serious allegations against the Management of the Railway system: — The Executive Council desires

to state that it regrets that it lias been compelled to inconvenience the public, of New Zealand by a strike which is the culmination of ten years’ endeavour to bring the dispute to a settlement by every -.waceable means placed at our disposal by the Governments of New Zealand. Thu executive also desires to state most emphatically that if the Prince had landed in the South Island at this juncture, when the men were losing all patience and becoming out of hand, we could have guaranteed a safe journey through the South Island, and had a settlement tixed before he came hero. The exceptionally deplorable conditions of work imposed upon the Xorth Island men, such as long hours, engines in disrepair, etc., has made the men force, the executive to give way. This, coupled with the keen disappointment of the men with the Stringer report, non-granting of leave, and ignoring of the executive’s last request, brought about a strike which it was hoped to avert. It is hoped that the Prince may yet be given a Koval welcome, by a speedy settlement, and the Executive Council will participate in the demonstration in Wellington. The members of this organisation arc almost entirely of New Zealand birth, and have joined with him in the tight for freedom and democracy ol the whole .world in the greatest of wars. As Xew Zealanders, therefore, we offer a.

hearty welcome to any visitor who is looked upon as one of ourselves. To the people of New Zealand we make this statement: that we are sorry that a more speedy settlement has not. been brought about, which would have given them.the opportunity of seeing the Prince. We trust the trouble may be yet fixed up for a welcome in Wellington. The Executive Council would prefer, in any case, that the children should he deprived of any pleasure rather than see one little body mangled in a train wreck which was sure to come about sooner or biter by the heartless manner in which the officials have been, giving consideration to the future manning of the locomotives of New Zealand. Our members have .been resigning—men with considerable experience—in shoals, and those left have been working long hours and irregular hours, and wearing nut (heir mental and bodily systems. The engines would sooner or latex have been manned by inexperienced men, upon whom the officials put full responsibility for saferunning of engines.