SHOP ASSISTANTS IN FAVOUR OF STRIKE BALLOT PROPOSAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 September 1947, Page 6

SHOP ASSISTANTS IN FAVOUR OF STRIKE BALLOT PROPOSAL

CP.A.) AUCKLAND, This Day. Nine telegrams of protest against the secret strike ballots proposal which the Minister of Labour (Mr McLagan) said in Parliament were all signed by the same person were actually from various job meetings of the Auckland Carpenters’ Union, according to a statement today by the Carpenters’ Union secretary, Mr R. Stanley. Stating that his name was signed on each telegram, which wap the normal procedure as he was the secretary, Mr Stanley added that all nine protests were made by union members at various meetings held on jobs.

Mr Stanley forecast increased opposition to the secret ballot proposals.

Support for the secret ballot legislation is given by the Auckland Tailoresses’ Union in a resolution passed at a union meeting. A copy of the resolution will be sent to the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser). A message from Wellington states that the New Zealand Shop Assistants’ Association conference yesterday passed unanimously a resolution supporting the secret ballot bill. A resolution was also passed opposing the proposal to appoint deputy judges of the Arbitration Court, the view being taken that the same functions could be carried out by Conciliation Commissioners with the right of - appeal to the Arbitration Court against the commisisoners’ decision being given either dissatisfied party. The association considered that conciliation commisisoners are much better informed on industrial matters, more particularly as in the subjects under discussion they have the advantage of having assessors from both sides sitting at the table and they can get the benefit of their first-hand knowledge.