DESERTING UNIONISTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16142, 3 August 1914, Page 7

DESERTING UNIONISTS.

OVEB AN UNCHALLENGED OLD

RULE.

GOVERNMENT CANNOT INTEBFEEE. j

A PECULIAR POSITION DEFINES).

(Pkb United Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, August 1. A deputation from the Wellington Typographical Union waited on the Prime Minister to-day to bring under hie notice thequestion of the effect of the rules of the union on the secession of 13 members of tho union employed in the Government Printisjr Office, lie matter had already been referred to the Minister (the Hon. F. M. JJ. Fisher), who declined to sanction the retention of certain rules which practically coaetituted preference to unionists. The depfctatioa pointed put that the rule in question ■had been in existence for over 30 years, and had nover beene challenged by any Minister. All experience showed that whenever unionists and non-unionists worked, together; trouble arose. The Prime Minister: Atb you asking the* the Government should compel these 13 men to join the union, or in default be demiseed? The President of the union: In the &st place, we would like you to make it quite clear that you have no wUh for the unnra to be broken up by more men seceding. Wβ. want you to make it quite clear_ that these men are not going to ■better their positions through leaving the union. The Hon. J*lr Fisher explained the position, and then the Prime Minister informed' the deputation that the Government could not interfere. Aβ to the suggestion that the Government should compel the men either to go back to the union or to leave the employment of the Government Printing Office, rt could not be done. It would be an act of tyranny no Government could contemplate for one aiomcnt. ' >1I