STORMY MEETING

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 2 August 1933, Page 6

STORMY MEETING

Unemployed at Hawera LIVELY DEBATE WITH MAYOR Views Oi Adjutant Mackenzie POSITION OF REPRESENTATIVE. MEN EXPRESS NO-CONFIDENCE. An at times lively debate between the Mayor (Mr J. 'E. Campbell) and Adjutant Alackenzie, of the Salvation Army, characterised a somewhat stormy meeting of Hawera unemployed last night when the appointment of a representative of tlie men on the Hawera .Unemployment Committee was under discussion.

As chairman, Mr Campbell refused to accept the nomination of a successor to the men’s representative (Air J. AlcAneny) until Mr AlcAnony’s written resignation was received by the com- j . mittee, and his attitude was the sub-; ject of criticism by Air Alackenzie. : The adjutant contended that as Air , AfcAneny had given him hi® word that he would resign the meeting was quite iu order to proceed to appoint another , representative or representatives. Air Campbell remained adamant in his ruling. Finally, after a spirited discus- ■ sion for over two hours the meeting, to “clear the air,” as the mover put, , it, passed a vote of no-confidence in Air, , AlcAueny as the workers’ representa- j tive a Till called upon liim to resign. All* . Campbell then accepted a recommendation to the committee that Mr J. Edmondstom he appointed to the executive as the representative of the men. Air Alackenzie, in outlining the reasons for the meeting, said Air AIoAneny had advised him that he intended to resign as the representative. of the men on the Unemployment Committee. It was, therefore, necessary to make a further. appointment. UNEMPLOYED AND UNIONISTS. “Why was this meeting advertised as a meeting of unemployed and unionist workers?” asked one of the unemployed. “Where does the unionist side come in?” 1 Adjutant Alackenzie replied that lie had inserted the advertisement. His reason for referring to unionist workers was that the definition, unemployed carried no status*. Although they were on relief work the men were either labourers or tradesmen. Had a meeting of unemployed been called tlie “upstairs” committee, according to the Act, could, if it so desired, have refused to recognise . representatives from unemployed. “I don’t see where the matter of unionists comes into the question at all ” said All* Campbell. A unionist worker is in a very different position I from an unemployed man. This is not a matter of unionism.” The point of the meeting was to elect representatives to the executive of the unemployment committee, said Air Alackenzie. Unfortunately there was a difference of opinion as to whether the men should have one representative on the executive or two. lhe decision as to the number of representatives rested with Mr Campbell, the speaker being certain that '"-hatover recommendation Air Campbell made to the .executive in tlisyfc respect the executive would accept it. Some time ago All* Campbell had accepted the idea of a second representative for tlie men, hut latterly ho had changed his opinion. All* Alackenzie. wanted to know why. Personally, lie considered the men had every right to two representatives, and lie was of opinion that 1 at least one member of the executive should not retain his seat. Fie was re- • ferring to Air E. A. Pacev. who should • j have retired when he ended liis term of office as Alayor. All* Campbell replied that be bad never suggested that the men should have two representatives. That suggestion had come from a. meeting of ; the men. He never had been the rop- ■ rcsontativo of any section since he relinquished the secretarial duties, and until he became chairman of the committee through his office as Afavor ho had acted only in an advisory capacity. Mr Mackenzie: The meeting assumed, and had a right to assume, that ; you would ho the second representative of the unemployed. Air Campbell: I made it quite clear that I did not think it advisable that I should he the direct representative of the men. Afv opinion then, as it is now, was that the men could he properly represented only hv one of their number. “ARE AIEN TO BE SERFS ?” It was not necessary that a representative of the men should he one of the unemployed, said Air Alackenzie. He instanced in support of liis contention a number of prominent Labour men, including several ■ members of Parliament, who were employers of labour, and added that all the men desired was that their claims should bo advocated from tlieir point of view. The proposal was not a vote of no confidence in the executive or in any person or persons, but simply a move for greater co-ordination with the committee. All that the men wanted was a fair, adequate representation of their claims, and for which they had a perfect right to ask. The position of tlie working men was such that it was imperative they should have every possible representation in such matters. “Are tlie men to he serfs?’’ asked the .speaker. Air. W. Fyfe (a member of the Hawera, Citizens’ Relief Committee) : j 1 think that the adjutant is viewing the whole matter in the wrong light. I here is no need to bring in the Labour aspect and it should be possible to settle the question amicably. “I think wc* are getting beyond bounds altogether,” said Air. Campbell. “Tin’s meeting lias not had Air. AleAneny’s resignation except by word oi mouth through another person, and the proceedings are out of order as far as another appointment is concerned. Air .Mackenzie: Do you doubt my word ?. Air. Campbell: No. by no means; but to receive a resignation in such u manner is most irregular. “Will you accept the nomination of a man to replace Air. AJoAneny as the workers’ representative on the executive?” asked Air Alackenzie. The chairman said lie was not prepared to do so, on tlie ground that AU*. AJcAneny’s resignation had not been tendered in a regular manner, and also that, except verbally through another person, no resignation bad been received. “If you are adamant that the meeting cannot appoint another representative in place of Air. AlcAueny yon | will be forcing the meeting into a vote I of- no-confidence in Air. AfcAneny,” said Mr Alackenzie. “The res-ponsibil-

icy of isueli a motion would res*t on your shoulders.” “I cannot see that,” said Air. Campbell. “Until Air. AlcAneny’s resignation is received by the committee lie is still a member of the committee.

“I suppose if Air. AlcAueny had told you instead of me that lie had resigned it would have been quite satisfactory?” Air. Campbell: No; don’t talk nonsense.

Air Alackenzie; You’re doubting my word.

Air. Campbell: Nothing of the sort. Tlie proper course is to have Air. AlcAneny’s written resignation. 1 can’t accept a verbal statement through another person. “Will you accept a motion nominating another person for tlie position when Air. AlcAneny’s resignation is received ? Air. Campbell: No; get lus written resignation. All* Tregoweth: We, the workers, have ’ a right to appoint or recall a representative as we see fit. WHOSE! REPRESENTATIVE ? A lengthy discussion followed as to whether Air. AlcAueny liad originally been appointed as the representative of the unemployed or as the workers’ representative, but the distinction between a workers’ .representative and a representative of the unemployed remained undefined. The question was apparently settled when one of the unemployed said lie first nominated Air McAnenv as the workers’ representative on the executive, meaning him to be the representative of the unemployed. Another of the men claimed that Mr AlcAueny had stated definitely on several occasions that he was not the representative of the unemployed. Air. Campbell : Then whom did ho represent? The question went unanswered. Air Alackenzie maintained that, as Air. AlcAueny was unable to attend lthe mooting, and because lie bad asked Miim to advise the meeting he had resigned, All*. Campbell had a perfect right to accept tlie nomination of a person to fill the vacancy. Tlie speaker claimed that Air. Campbell’s attitude was wholly unwarranted and that he was “throwing dust in the eves of the men.”

Mr Campbell: I strongly resent that remark.

“The adjutant had no right to make that statement and he should withdraw it,” said All* Fyfe. “The remark is grossly unfair and unwarranted.” “The whole position iis that we are splitting straws and getting nowhere,” said Mr Campbell. “I came hero to help you men, as I have always endeavoured to do. If you want- to speak more freely I will leave tlie meeting, but I strongly resent the, attitude taken by the adjutant.” All* Fyfe remarked that the adjutant was introducing the matter of unionism when that aspect liad nothing to do with the question. He thought that the adjutant’s attitude was not doing the men a service. An argument then ensued between Mr Fyfe and the adjutant over a- suggestion made prior to the meeting by Air Fvfe that the charges to the unemployed for meat should be increased in order that a profit could he made to buy clothing for the men. Air Fyfe admitted having made the suggestion, stating that the increase in the price would he a very small one, but the aggregate profit would eventual I v be sufficient to buy a considerable amount of clothing. “That’s no wav of doing the men a service.” replied All* Alackenzie. “Why take it out of their stomachs to put on their backs?” (hear hears and applause). Air Campbell: I don’t think any persons in Hawera are more charitably disposed towards the iineinpM.ved than are Air and Airs Fyfe. Anyone would think from Air Alackeaizie’s attitude that there was only one public

refactor in Hawera —All* Mackenzie

Voices: No, no. Ah* Alackenzie: Air' and Airs Fyfe are two of the best workers ill the interests of the men and their l-'iini-iies wc. have in Hawera. 1 was casting no reflection. Two of the unemployed, who, ai the earlier request of the adjutant had left the meeting to interview Air AlcAueny regarding his resignation, returned" at this stage and stated that Air AlcAueny had been quite definite in his decision to resign. “1 think that under the circumstances the chairman will now "be very unfair if ho persists in Ins attitude not to accept a nomination to fill ri AlcAnenv’s place,” said Air Alackenzie. Air Campbell reiterated his formei attitude that until Air AlcAueny’s resignation was received by the committee he was still a member, and that the nomination of another person would be out of order at the pie,sent stage.

EXCLUSION of press proposed

Faced with the position of the atmosphere becoming more tense, All Tregoweth moved at this stage that the Press be excluded and that the entails of the earlier discussion be suppressed. but the proposal was overwhelmingly defeated. Air Alackenzie commenced to introduce Labour topics into an argument fur the appointment of two representatives on the executive when lie was called to, order by the chairman “The Labour question lias nothing to do with the position,” said AllCampbell. . „ , “You people upstairs (reierring to the executive) will fight tooth and nail against two men going upstairs m Labour’s interests.” hotly retorted Air .Mackenzie. ~ “That’s absurd,” commented All Campbell. , . ... ~. Air Alackenzie insisted that Air Campbell accept tlie nomination of a representative to replace Mr AlcAueny. “Wc are going to push it, even n vim have to leave the chair,” lie saul. “Wo are determined to have t.'jc representation of an outside man who is better able to present the case for the men than any one of the, unemployed. The, men want a strong advocate because, as representatives o: the Unemployment Board, the executive are "in the position of the employers. “Rubbish,” replied Air Campbell. “The committeee only holds the bala nee between the board and the men to <>-ive justice to both.” In order, as it was put, to clear the air ” one of the unemployed proposed a vote of no-confidence m A r Ale A nen v as the representative of the m “U js a. pity such a motion lias been brought forward,” said Air Alackenzie. “Air Campbell' is responsible for it "because Af,r AlcAueny lias stated definitely that he has resigned ” “Bunkum,” answered' Air Campbell. The resolution was carried unanimously, also one requesting Air AlcAueny t 0 NOMINATION OF SUCCESSOR

Further argument ensued when Air Mackenzie persisted in asking Mr Campbell to accept a motion embodying tlie nomination of a .successor to All* AlcAneny, Air Campbell maintaining his former attitude. . “Tills is a publicly called, meeting and it would be rather a pity if the unemployed had to do what they did in Stratford— ask the Alayor to leave, ■said Mr Alackenzie. “He can accept a. motion and dissociate himself from it if he likes.” „ , f ■, “The position here and at btrattorn arc not analogous,” said Mr Campbell. “At Stratford the Alayor was not invited; 1 was invited to take tlie oh aunt this meeting.”. “I’ll take a vote of no-confidence in myself and in the committee, t-00, if you like,” added Mr Campbell. After considerable argument on the point Air Mackenzie moved that it be a. recommendation to tlie unemployment committee that Air .J. Edmondston. be appointed to the committee and to tlie executive as the representative of the

“I will accept a recommendation, but not a definite nomination for a position that is not vet vacant,” .said Air Campbell. “J rather think the executive will expect a relief worker should represent the men, and there is no one more competent to present the men’s point of view than one of them.” Air Tregoweth : Does the latter statement reflect your opinion? All- Campbell : It may.

Mr Mackenzie : 'Without a. doubt it does. 1 maintain that only one person counts on the unemolovinent executive and that is Mr Campbell. What he says goes. To insist that the men’s representatives should be one oi them TVould mean that they could not be properly represented because the representative would be unable to attend the meetings Mr Own libel I 1 replied- that the representative would. be able to attend all meetings without difficulty. .Special arrangements had been made to enai'j-le Mr MeAuony to do -so and those arrangements would continue ivitli a new .representative. •Mr Mackenzie repeated his previous remarks conc.erni.nig tlic personnel of the executive, again expressing the opinion that Mr Pricey had no right to be a member.

“You should he proud of the fact that he takes the interest in the men and that he still finds time to do his utmost on their behalf, ” said Mr Campbell. Finally the recommendation was put to the meeting and carried. In proposing a vote of thanks to the chairman, Mr Mackenzie said he wished it clearly to be understood that he bore no feeling towards Mr Campbell. It so happened that on the particular subject they had strongly opposed views,, but each was entitled to his opinion. He paid a. warm tribute to the activities of Mr Campbell on behalf of the unemployed. The motion was carried by acclamation.