“NOT GETTING AWAY WITH ANYTHING”

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 207, 29 May 1936, Page 13

“NOT GETTING AWAY WITH ANYTHING”

Prime Minister on Guilds RETROSPECTIVE LAW IF NECESSARY' “If we find anyone running us into a blind alley he is not going to keep us there for long,” tne Prime Minister, the Kt. Hon. M. J. Savage, yesterday toid a deputation from the New Zea land Alliance of Labour and the Trades and Labour Council which waited on him and the Minister' of Labour, the Hon. 11. T. Armstrong, to protest against what the deputation described as company unions alleged') to evade the provisions of the. amended I.C. and A. Act. “They are not getting away with anything. We will cover the whole ground with retrospective legislation,” he said. The deputation warmly congratu lated the Government on the improvements it laid made in legislation in its short term of office, stating that no other Government had done so much in such a short period. The deputation considered, however, that attempts were being made to undermine the law. Mr. F. P. Walsh, vice-president of the Alliance of Labour, who introduced the deputation, said that among clerical workers and in the printing trade guilds were being formed, considered to be really company’ unions, to undermine the legislation of the Government. .Mr. P. 51. Butler, secretary to the District Council of the Alliance of Labour, spoke on similar lines. Clerical workers in stock and station agency firms had united and formed an organisation on the grounds that they him nothing in common with other clerical workers and an agreement bad been made with the employers under which the highest wage was £4 a week. The Clerical Workers’ Union, in proceeding for an award, would be embarrassed by this agreement covering a section of the workers from securing an effective award for all.

He suggested an amendment of the Trade Union Act whereby the registration of unions under that Act would be under the .Minister of Labour, as with the I.C. and A. Act. The Labour Disputes and Investigation Act, which meant that anybody could secure an agreement and no one need know anything about it, required attention, and the deputation thought private agreements under the Incorporated Societies Act or any other Act dealing with wages and com/tions should not be allowed to operate. Mr. K. Baxter, secretary to the Related Printing Trades Union, and Mr. J. Reid, president of the Trades and Labour Council, supported the demand that a close watch should be kept on the formation of unions in order to see that organisations did not spring up which were "engineered.” Mr. J. Tucker, secretary of the 'Warehousemen’s Union, said guilds were being formed to defeat the intentions of the legislation. The Alini.ster of Labour said that provision had been made for unions registering under the Trades Union Act, which received the same protection as unions under the I.C. and A. Act. There was a clause permitting private agreements in the L.D.I. Act. That was open to the making of secret agreements which might bind the workers, who might not have been consulted. Freak agreements, however, had to be made null and void. That was the duty of the Government. Schemers should not be allowed to defeat the objects the legislation intended.

“What we have done is to offer facilities to the organised workers to adopt a more up-to-date form of organisation if they want it,” be said. “The machinery is there if they want it, but it is not there for ramming down the throats of organised workers who do not want it. “I am aware of some of the things that have been going on. I intended, at the first opportunity, to bring the matter before Cabinet, to proceed in the direction indicated by your delegation. Possibly this can be done with the Finance Bill coming down shortly. ’ The Prime Minister said that his object was the same as that of the delegation—to get better conditions generally for workers. The people should have the benefit of the machine and science. “If we find someone is running us into a blind alley he is not going to keep us there ver/ long,” he said. “It will take us some time to see the real effect of things, but that word retrospective appeals to me at times. When ever it is necessary to make a law retrospective to cover breaks that will be done. They know what we are doing to-day and they can’t be surprised if later on a Bill comes forward that is go’rg to destroy their ideas to defeat us and we will do anything along these lines that is necessary. I simply tell

3on frankly that anything that is necessary to be done to improve the legislation still further and to safeguard what we have already done is going to be done, whether we begin next week or next month They are not getting away with anything. We will cover the whole ground by’ retrospective legislation.” CLERICAL WORKERS Meeting of New Union A meeting of members of the Wellington Clerical Workers’ Union was held in the Town Hall last night at which there was an attendance of over 100. According to a statement made available for publication, after the meeting. Mr. F. P. Walsh, in welcoming newlyenrolled members, mentioned the efforts of the Employers' Federation, and of certain employers, to form new organisations confined to a small group of firms. He pointed out that such organisat’ons could, under existing law, come to an agreement with their employers, register it under the Trades and Industrial Dispute Act and defeat the objects of the Government in passing the amended 1.0. and A. Act designed to improve the conditions of all workers.

Mr. P. M. Butler said that the agreement which had been hurriedly "foisted on” the employees of the stock and station agents stipulated rates of pay only up to £2OO a year, this after seven years’ service. There was no provision for overtime payment, but there was a clause which stated that "The employers would encourage the employees to. join the guild.” The rules of this guild for stock and station agents’ employees had been accepted in the office of the Employers’ Federation.

The meeting was also addressed by Mr. Ormond Wilson, M.P., Mr. C. Morgan Williams, M.P., Mr. J. Hammond, president of the Insurance Offices’ Guild, Mr. P. Martin Smith, secretary of the Secondary School Teachers’ Association, and Mr. 51. Riske, member of the executive of the New Zealand Educational Institute. The meeting passed a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence in the provisional officers, and requested them to retain their positions. The meeting endorsed the action taken by the executive and authorised it to proceed with the drawing up of a statement of conditions in the various branches of the industry, preparatory to making application for awards from the Arbitration Court. The meeting unanimously resolved to affiliate to the Labour Party and to the New Zealand Alliance of Labour. CORRESPONDENTS’ COMPLAINT "The Dominion” has received the following letter Sir, —We have just, come from an attempt to enter a meeting of the Wellington Clerical Workers’ Union which was held in a room designed to hold about 50. On desiring to enter this “Star Chamber” we were informed that we must first sign an application for membership, which asked us to pay 5/- either on the spot or within one month. A. reasonable request if one had first perused the rules. Imagine our surprise on asking to see the rules we were told that we had to become members first. What a condition to be imposed by those who allegedly represent the bulwark of democracy I As greenhorns at this trade union business we would like some enlightenment, as to whether it is a recognised proceeding to become members of a union before sighting the rules which may or may not contain some subtle clause by which we would then be bound. Did this meeting have such secret motives that not even potential members, who had gone to the expense of journeying there, could gain admittance? So we, with about 50 others, were turned away. Included in the number were girls who had come all the way from Ngaio. We appreciate that a meeting should consist of union members, but in view of the circumstances the opportunity to hear proceedings should have been given. The truth was that the room was too small to hold those interested. It is a sorry state if this union with its blast of trumpets can only muster about 50 members, including two trade union officials. We understand that next Thursday is a public meeting, so we will have to wait patientlv, till then.—We are. etc., DISGUSTED WOULD-BE UNIONISTS. The Clerical Workers’ Union, when shown this letter, made the following reply: “The writers of the above letter have only themselves to blame for any disappointment they may have in missing the opportunity of being present at the union meeting, which was widely advertised as such. The advertisements also clearly advised that enrolments would be made between 7 and 8 p.m. “It is not likely that any body combined for protection are going to allow the enemy to enter the citadel. We know of no occasion when trade unionists liave been allowed to attend meetings of the Employers’ Federation. We invite the opponents of the genuine union of Clerical Workers to attend the pulllie meeting to be held in the Dominion Farmers’ Institute on Thursday next. There were 103 persons in attendance—not 50 as your Informers state. The rules of the union can bo seen at any time ou a few minutes’ notice; we do not know of any refusal to peruse same.” OIL COMPANY CLERKS A denial of the assertion that oil company clerks were attempting to form a company union was given yesterday by an official of the proposed Wellington Oil Officers Industrial

Union of Workers, which has applied to the Registrar of Industrial Unions for registration under the I.C. and A. Act. A statement by the proposed union declared that references to company unionism were an attempt by Trades Hall officials to frighten clerical employees into joining a union associated with the Trades Hall. The Wellington Clerical Workers’ Union, the statement proceeded, did not divulge that its officials knew what amendments to the I.C. and A. Act were to be introduced before applying for registration of that union, nor that the officials were acting under instructions from the Alliance of Labour. The Oil Officers Union stated that it had an assurance from the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, that there was no connection between the Trades Hall and the Government, “which should allay the fears of clerks that the Government may be backing the actions taken by officials at the Tracies Hall.” WAREHOUSE WORKERS Claims for a Dominion award for softgoods warehouse employees other than drivers, clerks, storemen and packers have been prepared by the Wellington Storemen, Packers and Warehouse Employees’ Union, which has been in existence since 1910. The present award covers only storemen and packers.

The new claims propose a five-day week of 40 hours, wages for warehouse hands, defined as anyone handling goods in a warehouse except drivers, clerks, storemen and packers, being:— Between 15 and 16 years of age, £l/5/-; 16-17, £l/15/-; 17-18, £2/5/-; 18-19, £2 15/-; 19-20, £3/10/-; 20-21, £4/5/-; 21 and over, £5/10/-. The proposed wage fop a first assistant traveller is £6 10/-, but no provision is made for a qualified traveller. Youths without experience are sealed as follow:—Between 18 and 19, £2/2/6; 19-20, £2 15/-; 20-21, £4/5/-; thereafter £5/10/-.

The claimed rate for female workers is identical with that for male workers up to £2/10/-, and thereafter at two-thirds of the increases payable to males. It is proposed to restrict employment of females to the mantle, millinery and underclothing departments, the proportion of females to males to be not more than one in four. Time worked in excess of eight hours a day is to be overtime, payable at time and a half for four hours and double time thereafter, with double time for work in meal hours. From December 25 to January 3 holidays are proposed, with additional holidays on Good Friday. Anzac Day. Anniversary Day. Easter Monday, Labour Day and the King’s Birthday. It is sought to maintain the system of "house purchases” at discount.