DECLARED BLACK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21923, 18 January 1946, Page 3

DECLARED BLACK

GOVERNOR’S AIDE

UNIONISTS ’ CHARGE

EXr VALET’S TREATMENT <9 a.m.) CANBERRA, Jan. 18. Brigadier Derek Schreiber, Chief of Staff to the Duke of Gloucester and hiis. wife, Viscountess Clive and their household, have been declared black by. the Canberra Trades and Labour Council. i. It is alleged that Brigadier Schreiber victimised his former valet, Ernest Cyril Field, aged 35, and procured his dismissal from the Hotel Kingston where he' had a job as barman. The council called upon every trade unionist to refuse any service to Brigader Schreiber and his wife and household. Field served with Brigadier Schreiber at Dunkirk and in India.

Dispute Over Wages

■' The allegations at the council meeting were that when Brigadier Schreiber married ,Lady Clive, Field asked for more pay or additional help as he received at the time £3 15s weekly. There were words and Field left and got a job at an hotel. While working there he went to see his wife who was working at Government House and was told that if he did not get off the premises he would be placed under arrest. His marriage had been secret. His wife left Government House and was to start as chef at the hotel.

The secretary of the council, Mr. S. J.' BlUmenthal, said that Brigadier Schreiber ' then brought pressure to bear on the breweries in Sydney and Word came from them that the Fields were not to be employed. This had been admitted by the hotel proprietor.

Demand for Reinstatment

As a result of this disclosure, the meeting, resolved that the council should approach Toohey’s Brewery and ask for • the reinstatement of Field within 24 hours otherwise all hotels in Canberra supported by Toohey’s would be declared black.

• Field said that when his wife found out about the order that he was not permitted to see her, she appealed to the Duchess of Gloucester. The Duchess was very kind and allowed her to leave without the customary three months’ notice. -• The motion to declare Brigadier Schreiber black was carried unanimously. A copy of the resolution is to be forwarded to the Prime Minister, Mr. J. B. Chifley “with a request that he use his influence to expedite the return of Brigadier Schreiber to the land of his ancestors.”