TIMBER WORKERS

Grey River Argus, 27 November 1943, Page 6

TIMBER WORKERS

National Secretary’s Reply TO WESTLAND SECRETARY. Mr. F. Craig, of Auckland, General Secretary-Treasurer of the New Zealand Timber Workers’ Union, has forwarded to the “Argus” the following statement in reference to the published report of the Secretary, Mr. F. L. Turley, on the recent annual meeting of the Westland Branch of the Uiron: — “Re your report of the annual meeting of the Westland Branch of the New Zealand Timber Workers' Union, published on November 10th, 1943, there are several matters on which I would like to comment for the information of members of the Westland Branch.“Re the election of nominees to the Timber Advisory Committee:— The election was conducted in accordance with the rules of the National Union (Rule 5 sub clause D), which states inter alia; ‘Voting at all Council meetings shall be by a show of hands, or, if demanded, by a card vote, on the basis of one vote for each member bf the branch for whom capitation has been paid to the national Office.’ “Mr. Turley-, was elected National Secretary of the Union on this rule, and was pleased to accept the • decision on that occasion. Apparently the rule is only unfair when Mr. Turley is defeated through its application. “Re Mr. Turley’s statement, in your report, re logging on the West Coast, in which he is reported to have told his members that there was a grave danger of Westland becoming a logging camp and of its resources being sent to the North Island in logs to be cut and manufactured. This statement is really too childish, as any, experienced bush or mill-hand will know. As a matter of fact, Mr. Turley knows that -the National Union, through myself as National Secretary, has, right through the war period, fought for shipping facilities for the export of the butter-box timber from the West Coast to the North Island factories, and the National Union has advocated that drykilns and box factories be installed in Westland, so that the box timber from the West Coast can be. more economically dealt with. This matter is now under consideration by the Government. Mr. Turley, knows this. “Re Butter Ration: My statement re this has already been published, and I am now informed that-.the Government, after consideration of the National Union’s representations, is prepared to make an extra allowance to bush sawmill and bush workers, with special extra consideration to special cases. I would point out that these negotiations were in train bv the National Union, before any suggestions of a strike came from Westland. If Mr. Turley had taken the trouble to enquire, he would have been acauainted with the fact. “In conclusion the National Union, and whoever acts for it. only deals with the industry as a whole, and no officer takes the parochial view suggested by the Westland Branch Secretary.” (Signed). F CRAIG. Secreta rv Auckland. Nov. 23.