The Rotary Balita no. 696 (May 22, 1952)

Secretary Jose Figueras, in his speech to-day, defended his actuations in suspending the permits of certain labor unions and said that he had documents in his possession concerning these unions. He clarified himself when he suspended the permits of the National Organization of Laborers, and Employees of the Rizal Cement Factory and the Union of Employees of the National City Bank of New York. "You who are mostly leaders of business establishments in the city, will you not blame me for being derelict in office if you found out that in spite of the reports in my possession, I did not take the precautionary measures to protect your interest and those of the general public?" Secre- tary Figueras asked. The Labor Secretary likewise directed a challenge to Fr. Walter Hogan, controversial Catholic priest, to start the movement for better wages in the churches calling at- attention to the fact that "charity begins at home." He cited the cases of the acolytes and the altar boys who receive as low ast P15.00 a month. "That," he said, "is starvation wage."