MINISTER’S BOMBSHELL.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3484, 12 May 1920, Page 5

MINISTER’S BOMBSHELL.

“WHERE ‘ARE .THE EMPLOYEES.”

SYDNEY, May 5.

One‘ or the new Labour Ministers of New South Wales, Mr Lang, the Treasurer, dropped a bombshell into a happy luncheon party on Satmday. It was the annual picnic ‘(of the employees of the Clyde Engineering Company, a very large and wealthy Sydney concern. An invitation “Was sent to Mr Lang, and he "duly appeared and took his seat at an elaborate luncheon table in a marquee. Soon afterwards his health was toasted, and the assemblage sang “For I-le’s a Jolly G:c-od Fellow.l’ Mr Lang began his reply by questioning their sincerity in singing “He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” He said that, in his opinion. the Sl'ngillg_ did not count for much. _They would have sung it just the same for a Nationalist. Minister—the enemy of his party. He had accepted their invitation and gone out there, not to ineettliis select gathering of directors, foremen, and bOSS€‘.S,'”'bllt to meet the shop hands and their good wives_ It was an employees’ picnic, he un;derstood; where were the employees? The answer was, “Outside? - ‘i -»

The chaix-nmn, Mr Membrey, who spoke on behalf :C-f the company, continued Mr Lang. had declared thaf the company soinght so-operation and <3/g,—\“ ordination, but his aetions‘ did not, support: his WOl-(IS. So Long as "the directors and the managers in this way kept aloof from their employees, there would be no cooperation and no co-30-rdination. The dignity of labour, about which they had been talking. was not being considered so long as the employers kept on one side of a line and flue workmen and their wiveg on the other. '

The astonished gatluering had by this time got its breath, and Mr Memfbrey inferjected warmly: “Mr Lang is -only -.1 member of Parliament, and I am more I am a member of society, and if he says I do not stand for the dignity of Labour he is not speak_ing The truth.”

Mr Lang said he was not afraid of more on these lines, and as soon as who had came out in dirty overalls and the good wife at the washtub had a higher dignity than those who merely talked about dignity. Mr Lang gave them a good deal more on these lines, and as sono as he finished a dozen men -were on their feet eager to reply. The chairman said the luncheon was made possible because everyone paid a. guinea towards it. The workers could not pay that. .

Mr Lang‘: Then why have such an expensive luncheon? A director said: I suppose you came down here in‘ a State car to- tell us this?

Mr Lang answered, with zipparmtly much satisfaction, that he had hired a car at his own‘ expense to make the joumey——and. thereupon left.