AUCKLAND TRADES COUNCIL EXECUTIVE

Grey River Argus, 18 February 1949, Page 5

AUCKLAND TRADES COUNCIL EXECUTIVE

Attacked by Communist Delegate at Lively Meeting P.A. AUCKLAND. Feb. 17 Wild scenes developed at a meeting of the Auckland Trades Council tonight when the words “contemptible, scabby and scurrilous” were used by the Communist delegate of the Waterside Workers’ Union, Mi' A. Drennan in making an attack on the executive of the council. Only two of the eleven items on the agenda had been discussed when the chairman, Mr J. Freeman, closed the meeting at 10 o’clock, amid an uproar from many delegates who were demanding an extension of the standing orders. Both of the matters discussed dealt with claims for an increase of £2 a week in wages. The meeting was marked by a number of amendments tiy motions. There were close divisions, a continual clamour for the attention of the chair and loud interjections. One delegate offered to fight the chairman and others outside, and at one stage, the chairman suggested that Mr Drennan should be removed from Ur hall.