THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22419, 4 June 1938, Page 22

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir,—We have heard a few objections to compulsory unionism. Mr Hamilton says it is to go. if he gets into power at the end of the year. If he is honest in his statement, this country will drop back to where it was in 1890—a hell upon earth, not for the workers, but for rich and poor alike. Medical men have to have their names on the roll before they can practise. Compulsion No. 1. The Law Society is No. 2. If the opponents of compulsory unionism will look back to when the present Government was elected they must admit there has been no real trouble or upsetting of the commerce of this country by compulsory unionism. Why? Eecaus* the Minister for Labour has settled all the little differences early, without the big stick. The conditions the working men and their wives and families had to go through before and after Mr Seddon’s time were vile. In 1935 we struck daylight again, and we must thank Mr Savage apd his wonderful colleagues for what they have done and are doing for the people and the country. If "Worker” will look up the figures for the local body elections right through New Zealand he will find the Labour vote has gone up considerably, and not down. I want to see men in power who will provide for the women and children, and it can be done, not by taking money from every worker in New Zealand to give it to a concern which in the same year paid a 38 per cent, dividend. This was done by men who say compulsory unionism must go. The people will never forget that sort of thing.—Yours, etc C. E. HAWKER. [This correspondence is now closed. — ■ Ed., “The Press.”]