LABOUR REPRESENTATION COMMITTEE

Evening Star, Issue 21091, 2 May 1932, Page 4

LABOUR REPRESENTATION COMMITTEE

The Otago Labour Representation Committee transacted a considerable amount of business at its last meeting. The first matter was in relation to an alleged secret organisation engaged supposedly by business firms for the purpose of scrapping employees by ingenious methods .which from reports received were stated to be anything but creditable. A motion was earned that this matter be referred to the executive to gather all available information and forward it to the Minister of Labour and the leader of'the Parliamentary Labour Party. The matter of public speaking was also dealt with,' and the methods being adopted under the new, regulations of the City Council were regarded as anything but creditable, and the opmion was expressed that the time had arrived when the whole Labour movement should combine and review the situation: . The action of the City Council in refusing to open the Concert Chamber on the night of April 3 unless payment for the use of it and for tho shifting of the furniture on the Sunday morning was first made to the caretaker came in for some very strong comment, and the secretary was instructed to write to the council on this matter, and aHo to forward its. letter, with copies of the council’s letters, etc., to Mr J. W. jMunro, M.P. The 10 per cent, penalty on overdue accounts for social services was referred to, and it was claimed by speakers that this was an illegal charge and could not be collected. ' A telegram from Air F. Jones, M.P., was received thanking the committee for loyAl support during his term as president, and hoping that his successor would receive the same support^ The hon. secretary (Mr P. Neilson), having decided not to seek nomination' again for that office, Air J. Robinson, secretary of the Trades Hall Central Labour Office, was elected to the position, and the late secretary was then appointed organiser for the committee. A motion- was carried against any repeal of the Commercial Trust Act and the Cost of Living Act. The following motion was carried:— “ That in consideration of the finer feelings of the ladies and young girls of Dunedin, the City Council be requested to place some tall shrubs along the path leading to the ladies’ convenience in the Octagon, so that anyone using it may not.be subjected to the public gaze; and, further, that as women and children use the streets as much, if not •more so, than men, we also respectfully request that at least as many ladies’ conveniences be erected as are now provided for men.” The annual report and balance-sheet were .then read by the'secretary. The report showed that the committee had opened up new ground in Kaitangata and Green Island by the establishment of branches there. The vice-president (Air W. Aloreland), who has been acting in Air F. Jones’s position, was elected president, and in thanking members for the honour conferred on him said he hoped to justify the confidence reposed in him. He wished to place on record the very valuable services rendered by Air Neilson as their secretary for the last three years. No more loyal or industrious secretary, could the committee have had, and he felt sure the committee had done the right thing in retaining Air Ncilson’s services in the capacity of organiser.. He proposed a motion to this effect, and it was carried by acclamation. Mr Neilson, in thanking the committee for its expression of thanks for his services, said no higher honour could be conferred on anyone. Service to a cause one held most dear was the worthiest objective in life, and although he was relinquishing the secretaryship to be able to devote more time and study to other matters, he nevertheless as accepting the new office of organiser for the committee, could sec that this respite was going to be more apparent than real, and his task might be found in the long run to be more strenuous than the previous one.