TIMBER WORKERS

Grey River Argus, 4 July 1944, Page 2

TIMBER WORKERS

N.Z. UNION DELEGATION TO WEST COAST Mr W. F. Campbell, of New Plymouth, National Councillor, N.Z. Timber Workers’ Union, referred yesterday ’ to the cancellation of meetings of timber workers in the West Coast district, which were being addressed by the National Secretary (Mr F. Craig) a nd himself. Mr F. L. Turley, secretary of Westland Union, which was a branch of the New Zealand Union, had stated in the “Star” that he and Mr Craig “are now proposing to call at mills unknown to the Westland Union so that the secretary, Mr Turley, could not reply to their statements.” That was contrary to fact. Evidence could be wrought forward that they had had no such imention. As a matter of fact, Mr Turley was notified, by a circular which was dated June 20, of all of the meetings which they had intended to address. After a meeting on Sunday evening at Ross, Mr Craig and himself, being empowered to xio so by the National Council, had decided not to proceed with those meetings that had been fixed for yesterday and to-day. Evidence of this decision was available from an independent individual, also from a member of the Westland Union executive. In his press statement Mr Turley had said: “Members are warned against carrying any resolutions either for or against their proposals until they notify the local Secretary of their whereabouts, and give the local Union an opportunity of replying to their statements.” He wished to point out that prior to their first meeting, at Nelson Creek, Mr Turley had contacted Mr Craig with a proposition to meet a.delegaio from each of his (Mr Turley’s) sub-branches, which would have meant that the rank and file members would not have had the opportunity of hearing arguments on behalf of national unity, which had always been advocated by the most prominent organisations associated with the Federation of Labour, amongst them the United Mine Workers, who had a national award. He as a National Councillor, instructed to visit Westland by the unanimous vote of the National Council, and likewise the National Secretary, would not have had the discourtesy, in Mr Turley’s words—“to call at mills unknown to the Westland Union,” and much less to have acted "so the secretary, Mr Turley cannot reply to their statements.” Mr Turley had, in his press' statement, said:' “These tactics are unknown in the history of unionism in New Zealand.” He agreed; .and he would ask Mr Turley what had prompted him to allege publicly such tactics were being adopted. by them. He asked this in view of the fact that the mills had been notified by the circular of June 20 of every proposed meeting, including those which the National Secretary had since cancelled by public notice, before Mr Turley had yiyterday published >hhs statement, in which he had also said: “These men are now afraid of the rank and file of the Westland Union.”. If they were considered to be afraid, why should it be publicly stated. . that their intention still was to visit the rank and file—“to call at the mills?’ Did Mr Turley fear that they might call, or that the rank and file might wish them to do so? Their mission had been to maintain unity. When Mr Turley had been National Secretary they had extended him every courtesy, and in coming here they looked for reciprocity. As they saw it, the question was what would any national organisation say of a sectional breakaway -dr a separate organisation? He (Mr Campbell) was speaking only for himself, not for the National Secretary, who had previously visit- j ed the district, and who probably would take a suitable opportunity to comment on the matter and on any statement of Mr Turley. MR. TURLEY'S REPLY. Mr. Turley, referring to the above, stated he wished to reply to Mr. Campbell’s statement, viz: “That Mr. Turley had stated in the "Star” that he and Mr. Craig are now proposing to call at mills unknown to the Westland Union, so that the Secretary could not reply to their statements. That was contrary to fact. Evidence could be brought forward that they had no such intention.” “The facts,” said Mr. Turley, "are that at a late hour on Sunday night, oij. arrival back from Ross, Mr. Craig, or Mr. Campbell rang up a certain garage proprietor to see if they could get a rental car to visit sawmills for a few

days, and this was in spite of the fact that these gentlemen had inserted in the “Grey River Argus” yesterday morning, an advertisement that all meetings were cancelled. He (Mr. Turley) also called at the hotel where Mr. Craig and Mr. Campbell were staying, and inquired for them, when he was informed that they expected to be in the country for possibly Monday and Tuesday, and as the omy business they could possibly have was visiting sawmills, as that was their errand, and as they could not be found as they were out of town, I ask just what else could be concluded ? Mr. Campbell also called at my home at about 4 p.m. yesterday, without Mr. Craig, and asked Mrs. Turley if 1 could be possibly found, as he wanted to see me—very important. This was in spite of the fact that I had accidentally hailed a taxi at about 3.15 p.m. Such taxi, to my surprise, was occupied by Mr. Craig and Mr. Campbell. Just why could not the important business then have been stated ? Mr. Campbell also informed Mrs. Turley that they had been very busy, ana, as their only business was to visit sawmills, I was again naturally inquisitive as to- which sawmills haa been visited, remembering that all meetings were advertised as cancellea. I welcome Mr. Craig and Mr. Campbell visiting sawmills along with me, i but not their getting out of the way - in the above mysterious circumstances. As regards the statement that “Mr. Turley had contacted Mr. Craig prior to the Nelson Creek meeting with a proposition to meet delegates from each sub-branch,” this is just too silly for words, as it was moved at a National Council meeting, held in Wellington, at the end of May last, that the National Council appoint delegates to go to the Coast and met a delegate appointed from and by each sub-branch, namely Ross, Ruatapu, Nelson Creek and Kumara, who would be shown all correspondence, and hear the National Union’s side of the matter, as well as Mr. Turley's, they then to report their findings to the rank and file. This was the only way all facts could be brought out and proved, or otherwise; but this was not acceptable to the National Council or to Mr. Craig. Why ?” Meeting at Kumara WESTLAND TIMBER INDUSTRY EMPLOYEES' UNION.

A meeting, called by Mr. F. Craig of Auckland, National Secretary of the New Zealand Timber Workers' Union, (exclusive of Westland, Nelson and Marlborough) which was to have been addressed bv himself and Mr. Campbell, was duly held in Kumara last night, and was attended by over forty members. In the absence of the above named two representatives, Mr. F. L. Turley addressed the meeting, and explained to those present the results of three meetings held on Sunday last, at Nelson Creek, Ruatapu and Ross. Messrs F. Rudkin and B. Becker who had attended meetings held at Ruatapu and Ross also stated to the meeting their observations. It was explained to the meeting that Messrs Craig and Campbell ■ had submitted to the meetings a resolution asking for approval of the actions of the National Union, confidence in the National Union officers, and approval of becoming a party to the award now in the process of being made by the National Union. At the conclusion of the meeting the following resolutions were carried unanimously on a show of hands: — (1) That no good can come of meetings now being held, as the Westland Union is now registered and we instruct the Secretary, Mr. Turley, to take the necessary steps to secure a new award for Westland.

(2) That the advertisement inserted in Greymouth “Star” by the Secretary regardingl the attitude adopted by Messrs Craig and Campbell be fully endorsed. (3) That this sub-branch regrets the attitude adopted by Messrs Craig and Campbell in not attending the meeting at Kumara as advertised, and addressing the branch, as this had been the first branch to take an active part in the formation of the old Westland Union which is now registered.

Mr. Turley in the absence of Mr. Craig and Mr. Campbell, asked if anyone would care to move the resolution submitted by. Messrs Craig and Campbell to the meetings held on Sunday last, but no support was forthcoming for that resolution. It was stated that the total voting at the four meetings that had now been held was: For resolution No. 1, herein 90; for Messrs Craig and Campbell’s resolution, 10.