PAYMENT OF UNION DUBS

Hutt News, Volume 13, Issue 24, 22 November 1939, Page 5

PAYMENT OF UNION DUBS

(To the Editor.) , Sir, —My attention has been drawn to the discussion at the last meeting of the Lower Hntt Borough Council concerning the demand by the secretary of the General Labourers' Union for the dismissal of a man who had not paid his full i union dues, I am the man in Question and I desire to correct one or two points and to state the facts. I have not been in receipt of any family allowance for the past two years, and Cr. Hall's statement is quite Incorrect and misleading. I am not able to pay the full amount of 25/- demanded as union dues in one lump sum out of any week's pay, and maintain my wife and seven children tinder the age of sixteen years. I, have offered to pay instalments of the amount demanded and as recently as Tuesday, November 7, I offered the union organiser five shillings and another five shillings on pay day, November 9. He declined to accept the instal--ment. My gross wages on Scheme 13 are £4/10/-, from which is deducted 4/6 as Social Security tax, and I find it very difficult to pay even an odd 5/- per week as union dues and 30/. per week rent for a State house and maintain nine persons on the balance of £2/10/- per week, with costs of all commodities constantly on the rise.—l am, etc., D. BREE. Lower Hutt, November 15 th.