DRASTIC SUGGESTION

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 105, 31 October 1923, Page 19

DRASTIC SUGGESTION

CONTROL OF STRIKE BALLOTS BY PUBLIC OFFICIALS. (BY TELEGRAPH PIIESS ASSOCIATION.) ■ CHRISTCHURCH. 30th October The council of the Canterbury Chamber, of .Commerce had before it to-day a communication from the Hastings Chamber asking for approval of the following remit to the conference of associated chambers :—."That this conference urges the Government to pass legislation to provide that in all cases where public interests- are liable to be affected, and particularly " when the • issue relates to strikes, .tra.de union ballots shall be placed under the sole control of public officials and entirely removed from the .sphere of those. who are concerned to see a certain result brought about." Mr. H. Holland said he thought that the remit should be endorsed. They had heard of secret doors at such ballots. ' Mr. H. H. "Smith asked where they would draw the line. To. supnoyt the remit would be simply courting disaster. He thought it would be a good idea if the Government had a representative present at such ballots: He moved in the direction indicated, but there was no seconder.'

It was decided that the chamber could not endorse the remit.