UPROAR AT UNION MEETING.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 18 March 1937, Page 5

UPROAR AT UNION MEETING.

BOOKS AND PAPERS SEIZED. RESULT OF NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION. (By Telegraph-—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day. Dissolved in an uproar as a number of men allegedly advanced and seized the books and other Union property, a meeting in the Trades Hall of the Auckland and Suburban Local Bodies Labourers' Union last night is stated to have been of a far from harmonious nature. An announcement was made at the meeting that the vote of no confidence in the executive members and the secretary and treasurer, Mr. Bernard Clews," had been lost in the postal ballot. Thereafter attempts to proceed business failed, and when the -newly-eleetect President, Mr. H. MeSweeney, declared the meetingclosed, the books "were seized. It is understood that a- period of 24 hours was given for the return of the books, failing which legal proceedings Would be instituted.

It will Toe recalled that stormy scenes brought to an abrupt end a meeting- of the Union on January 20th, when' the then President, Mr. J. Sereombe, together with Mr. Clews and other members, left the hall following a general disturbance. At the annual meeting on March 10th, attended by 130 members, two financial members demanded a ballot on a no-confidence motion. It was announced last night that the ballot had been lost by 249 votes. The new President appealed for unity, but attempts to carry on the business failed, the President finally declaring the meeting closed. It is alleged that a number of men then seized the books and other property of te Union.