LATE NEWS Auckland Union Agitation Against Strike Ballot Bill

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 August 1947, Page 7

LATE NEWS Auckland Union Agitation Against Strike Ballot Bill

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, This Day. Evidence grows daily here of union opposition to the Government’s proposed legislation on secret ballots before strikes. l •. It is possible that a mass meeting of unionists will be held in the Auckland Domain to consider the issue. The Auckland Builders’ and~General Labourers’ Union will recommend to the Auckland Trades Council that such a gathering should be held. It would involve 45,000 to 46,000 workers. It is believed that some sections of unionists here might withdraw their opposition to secret ballots if strikes were made legal. It is known that this aspect has been widely discussed.

A surprising recent development was the decision of the Auckland Theatrical and Amusement Employees’ Union to support the Government’s measure for compulsory secret ballots. As far as is known this is the only union here which so far has opposed what is claimed to be the general union policy on this issue.

A message from Wellington states that the Wellington watersiders at their monthly stop-work meeting today asked the Wellington Trades Council to call a special meeting to discuss the secret ballot on strikes proposed by the Government. No one spoke in favour of the Bill. Mr Churchill To Broadcast On Saturday

(Rec. 3 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 13. Mr Churchill’s speech, which-was cancelled for August 17, because of the inter-party agreement banning controversial broadcasts on Sundays, will be broadcast on August 16 for 20 minutes.

Reuters understands the speech will be one of the five political broadcasts allotted to Conservatives for the year.