PUBLIC SERVANTS AND DIRECT ACTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2754, 5 July 1924, Page 3

PUBLIC SERVANTS AND DIRECT ACTION.

— OUTSIDE INFLUENCES CONDEMNED. Direct action methods by State employees were roundly condemned Die Legislative Council on Thursday by the Hon. IT. L. Michel. “Outside influences are being brought to bear,” be said, “not only upon the railway employees hut upon other departments, and ’ that is a most serious aspect in connection with our system of Government. Tn this country we have 52,000 public servants, and it seems that number of Government departments are being attacked and influenced by outside organisations. I have absolutely sympathy with the contention Dial the Railway employees or the employees of the Police or Post and Telegraph or any other State Departments. should have the right to join up with the Alliance of Labour or other such organisations. It. is absolutely opposed to (lie best interests of the country. When (he raihvaymen struck, they struck not against the capitalists, but against the people. It would be tiie same no matter what system of Government prevailed. “I say deliberately,” said Mr Michel, “that the Government is to he commended upon the action it took ii: that strike. If the Government bad been weak, and allowed it to go on it. would have forfeited the confidence of the people.”