MOVE TO OUST DRIVERS’ UNION OFFICIALS FAILS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22916, 7 April 1949, Page 6

MOVE TO OUST DRIVERS’ UNION OFFICIALS FAILS

(P.A.) AUCKLAND. April 6. An attempt to remove officials of the Auckland Drivers’ Union from office was defeated at a mass meeting of Auckland drivers in the Town Hall last night. After an unruly meeting a division on the proposal that the officials be removed was taken, those for and against lining up at opposite sides of the hall. After a consultation with four scrutineers the president of the union, Mr. E. Tahlor. declared the proposal lost by a two-to-one majority. Blows were exchanged when a fracas occurred at the main entrance to the hall before the meeting as a result of the doorkeepers refusing admittance to drivers not in «possession of the special tickets issued only to men within a radius of 25 miles of the Auckland Post Office.

Waving their financial membership cards a number of irate drivers succeeded in forcing their way into the hall without the special tickets.

There was an attendance of more than 1000. The meeting had been called by a group of dissident members, who said that their object was to restore proper relations within the union. The requisition for the meeting which had been served on union officials called for the removal of all officials and members of the executive on the ground that they were not performing their duties in a satisfactory manner.