DENIAL OF SPLIT IN N.Z. UNION OF TRAMWAYMEN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23315, 26 July 1950, Page 8

DENIAL OF SPLIT IN N.Z. UNION OF TRAMWAYMEN

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 25. “There is no split in our organisation,” said Mr. P. A. Hansen, national secretary of the New Zealand Tramway Employees’ Union, last night. He was commenting on a report last week that tramwaymen at Auckland had agreed to hold a secret ballot on disaffiliation from the national union. “We have no knowledge of any such resolution.” said Mr. Hansen. "I can only conclude that there has been some misunderstanding about the ballot we propose to hold shortly on the question of disaffiliation from the Federation of Labour. On that issue we respect the right of our members to decide for themselves. Once that decision is made, all members will loyally abide b.y it. We emphatically deny that there is or can be any split in our national union on such an issue.”

Circulars would be sent out with ballot papers, giving botli sides of the dispute. The federation had been invited to set out its case in a circular, but it was not vet decided whether the opposing view should be presented by (lie union or by the Trades Union Congress. For tiiis reason it might not be nnssible to hold the ballot until August 1-1.