COMMUNISTS OUSTED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22613, 16 April 1948, Page 4

COMMUNISTS OUSTED

TRADES COUNCIL POLLS AUCKLAND OFFICIALS (P.A.) AUCKLAND, April 16. Three leading Communist officials of the Auckland Trades Council were ousted from office at the annual election last night Although the votes in the elections for other officers will not be counted until today, it is apparent from the ticket voting which was adopted that there will be a victory for the anticommunist section. The meeting was described as the largest ever held by the council. It was attended by 190 delegates. Mr J. Freeman, vice-president of the New Zealand Timber Workers’ Union, defeated Mr. A. Drennan by 103 votes to 87 for the presidency. Mr. Brennan, the Waterside Workers' Union delegate on the council, is chairman of the New Zealand Communist Party. Mr. J. T. Jennings, delegate of the Caretakers and Cleaners’ Union and a member of the Auckland Transport Board, defeated Mr. A. Whitton, secretary of the Tramwaymen’s Union and a member of the national executive of the Communist Party by 112 votes to 78. In the election for secretary, Mr. H. S. Callagher, secretary of the Local Rodv Labourers’ Union, beat Mr-. W. Ashton, a member of the national executive of the Communist Party, by 110 votes to 80. Mr. Drennan was re-elected unI opposed as the Auckland member of the national council of the Federation of Labour.