HOTEL BOYCOTT

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20732, 16 February 1939, Page 10

HOTEL BOYCOTT

MR SAVAGE’S COMMENT FINDING LEGAL POSITION* (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Wednesday “I’m endeavouring lo ascertain the legal position," said the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. M. .1. Savage, when his attention was called this evening to the statement by Mr Frank Goldberg that he had consulted Mr Savage concerning the reason for developments at. certain hotels where he had obtained accommodation. “Mr Goldberg came to see me the other day,” said Mr Savage, “and 1 told him I did not know the legal position, but that 1 would find out. 1 am taking steps to ascertain it now. "Mr Goldberg also fold me he did not want any publicity given the matter, but the Press Association message of three-quarters of a column from Christchurch lie has in to-night's paper certainly looks to me a little bit like publicity. Mr Goldberg has got more publicity than Ministers of the Grown get for important statements.”

“1 have no knowledge whatever of any threat to boycott any of our wellrun hotels in New Zealand, *’ said Mr F. P. Walsh, secretary of the Seamen’s Union, when the report of Mr Goldberg's experience was referred to

"DID ALL POSSIBLE" AVOIDANCE OF PUBLICITY ELECTION PAMPHLET QUESTION

(By Telegraph.—Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday Replying to the comment of the Prime Minister, Mr Savage, concerning tile boycott by the Hotel Workers' Union, Mr Goldberg said be did everything that was possible to avoid publicity, but it was impossible to keep the news of the situation out of the newspapers.

"In my stay at hotels," he said, “it has been impossible to entertain friends and business associates and ] had to explain to them the reason for this. You know how difficult it was to get me to make the trrst statement on the subject." When asked about a pamphlet published during the election campaign last year, entitled "Your future In your hands,” which it had been stated that he had taken part in preparing:, Mr Goldberg said: "I had no association with it whatever. 1 condemned it then and I condemn it now."

Mr Goldberg said he appreciated the kindness of Mr Ravage in de\oting his personal attention to the matter.