Extended Bar Hours

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31499, 13 October 1967, Page 14

Extended Bar Hours

Sir,—Those barmen who defied the Canterbury Hotel Workers’ Union ban on serving after 7 p.m. are to be heartily congratulated; likewise all those barmen in other centres with enough sense to tell the Hotel and Restaurant Workers’ Union where they could go. Mr A. F. G. McGregor should be fully supported by all sections of the community in his brave attempts to challenge the legality of the union’s directive, and I wish him every success. The Hotel Workers’ Union has been extremely childish in its attitude; especially Mr L. N. Short’s request for “complete loyalty to the union.” The unions have also demonstrated their petty dictatorial techniques by enforcing an unpopular decision on the barmen, whom they are supposed to “represent.” What a farce!—Yours, etc., J.D. October 10, 1967.

Sir,—As one of the four dissenting workers at yesterday’s union meeting, may I use a small space to let my fellowworkers know how disgusted I am with their attitude? I am all for negotiating for better pay and conditions, but why deprive John Citizen and his wife of what they voted for on September 23? Not only do the public lose, but so do we as barmen; and the hotelier is also being deprived of part of his livelihood. Therefore he cannot pay us what we do not earn. —Yours, etc., THOROUGHLY DISGUSTED BARMAN. October 12, 1967.

Sir, —Congratulations on the appropriate headline on the front page of today’s issue: “Mr Skinner Deplores Action.” His latest exhortations would have the'country and the people in a state of economic and muscular degeneration.—Yours, etc., ANOTHER COMPULSORY UNIONIST. October 12, 1967.