RIGHTS OF UNIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 151, 27 June 1936, Page 22

RIGHTS OF UNIONS.

AFFILIATION QUESTION. "BOSSES OF SITUATION." (By Telegraph.—Special to " Star.") DUNEDIN, this day. The rights of unions to effect political iffiliations was commented upon by the Prime Minister, the Hon. M. J. Savage, ,io whom a statement had been referred that a large Auckland union had sought a legal opinion as to its position, and had been informed that the union had no power to affiliate, and would forfeit its standing before the Arbitration Court if it did. ' The validity of this opinion was questioned by Mr. Kalpli Harrison, secretary of the General Lab6urers' Union. Mr. Harrison coii_idered the* opinion was based on the assumption that there was no specific provision in the rules of unions as to the question of affiliation with a political party, but he pointed out that there was always some elasticity about all rules and laws. As a matter of fact, a large number of trade unions in Otago and Southland, and in all other districts, had been officially affiliated with -the Labour party for many years, and subscribed to the party through capitation fees. Consequently, these unions had a close association with the activities of the Government.

"The unions are really the tosses <®f the situation," said Mr. Harrison. "The logical conclusion of their representation is that when industrial affiliations say a thing must be done, the political body has to carry that out." Mr. Harbison added that it was quite open to any union or individual momber of a union to secede if the union or the individual desired, and no one was compelled to join in the first place.