Trades Council Will Not Accept By-law

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32378, 18 August 1970, Page 19

Trades Council Will Not Accept By-law

The Canterbury Trades Council has written to the Christchurch City Council saying it will refuse to accept the proposed by-law on street demonstrations.

“We refuse to accept any by-law which can be used to take away the rights of our organisation to join with others in demonstrations,” said the letter, which was signed by the trades council president (Mr R. A. Hill) and secretary (Mr G. G. Walker). “While we are not setting ourselves up as a body with the right to break laws, we would point out that bad laws are made to be broken,” they said. “We will again state quite clearly that we will reserve the right to take part in peaceful demonstrations against any unjust or unwarranted laws. As the representative body responsible to the vast majority of workers within this city, it is our duty to look after their interests. “We request your council to drop your proposals on the new by-law which would make it nearly impossible for our citizens to demonstrate against injustices.” The letter was unanimously endorsed by a meeting of the Canterbury Trades Council on Thursday evening. This meeting also set up a committee to investigate pensioner payments and to con-

' suit other organisations about , them. Mr Walker commented that the 50c a week increase re--1 ceived by pensioners in their ’ last rise hardly compared ; with the $30.77 a week in- ! crease recently recommended for members of Parliament.