POLITICAL SITUATION.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17972, 18 March 1930, Page 7

POLITICAL SITUATION.

[i-I VESTS GAT!ON COMMITTEES. REPRESENTATION OF LABOUR. WELLINGTON, Monday. \ suggestion that the Labour organisation should be consulted in connection with the representation ot Labour on investigation committees set up bv the Government was made to the Minister of Labour, the Hon. W. A. Veitch, to-day by 'the Wellington Trades and Labour Council, as the district council of the Alliance of Labour. t Mr W. Bromley, president of the Trades Council, said that the council had discussed the personnel of the Workers’ Compensation Committee recently set up. They did not object to Mr T. Bloodworth sitting as Mr Bloodworth, but it could not be held that he represented Labour in New Zealand, for Labour had not been consulted in the matter.

Mr F. Cornwell referred to the possibility of a certain section of Labour, which felt sore at the Government’s action in respect to the compensation inquiry, refusing to tender evidence. Mr McLaggan, representing the mine workers, supported the representations.

Replying, the Minister said that the committee (had not been set up from a representative point of view, and he had been careful to avoid anybody who held strongly biassed view's in any direction. He regretted that the Labour movement had not taken a more broadminded view of the matter. He would have thought that the movement would have taken the setting up of the 'Committee as an earnest of the Government's desire to overcome the difficulties and weaknesses which at present characterised the Act. If the committee was to be successful, it w’ould need to have the support of all sides.

The Minister said he admitted quite frankly that the appointment of Mr Bloodw'orth had not been on the advice of the Labour leaders, but hat been due to the fact that it was believed that Mr Bloodw'orth would be a valuable man on 'the committee. As to the withholding, of evidence, he suggested that earnest men, with the interest of the community at heart, would not adopt such a course. Mr R. Semple, M.P.: We think it is the bounden duty of the Government to co-operate with us. Mr Veitch said the Government was doing so. In repjy to Mr Cornwell, the Minister said he could not see his way to appoint additional Labour representation on the committee. There were nine members already and tic thought that was enough.