UNION LEVY

Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1938, Page 7

UNION LEVY

OBJECTION MADE. (Per Press Association—Copyright;. CHRISTCHURCH, August 8. A levy on members of the Lyttelton Branch of the New Zealand Waterside, Workers’ Union for funds for a Labour Party newspaper has drawn a public statement from a Christchurch member of a union, John Donnelly, who has resigned from the Union after 11 years membership. Donnelley refused to pay the levy because lie considered that it was not constitutionally enforceable. Re was some weeks ago deprived of his vote in union affairs. Criticism of a compulsory levy on members of the Union for such a purpose, recently made in the House of Representatives by Mr S. G'., Holland, M.P., drew a resolution of protest from the Wellington Branch of the Union. To this, Donnelly has sent a Written reply. The reply states that what Mr Holland said was absolutely true. Donnelley undertakes to give evidence in support of Mr Holland’s statement if the Government is prepared to appoint a Ala-, gistrate to take evidence on the position.

Explaining his attitude to-day, Donnelly said that the. decision to make the levy a compulsory one had been passed, on a vote taken by a show oi hands, and not a secret ballot. That procedure was against the Union's constitution, lie said, and in his own opinion on that lie had been supported by legal advice. “As soon as a decision to make the levy compulsory, so that members who did not pay it were deprived of a vote,Was announced, I decided to resign/’ said Donnelly. His resignation had been made'on July 27, but, according to the Union’s rules, lie maintained, remained a member until October 27 next. ?

OBJECTOR’S REMONSTRANCE;

CHRISTCHURCH, August 8

Donnelly’s letter to the Secretary of the Wellington Watersides’ Union reads as follows: “I have noted, with, surprise, the action reported in the daily press by your Branch of the Union in reference.to the Lyttelton watersiders case mentioned in 'the House by Mr S. G. Holland, M.P. Your Union says that Mr Holland’s statements are wrong. , Now, as/ a member of the branch, at Lyttelton, 1 wish to inform you, your members, and the public generally that Mr Holland’s remarks were absolutely true, and, if the Government is prepared to appoint a Magistrate to take evidence, I will undertake to supply the evidence required. Since when ;,lms your Branch been appointed to deal with the business of the Lyttelton BranchP Mr Holland’s statement hod to deal with the Lyttelton Branch only, and if the Wellington' Branch' does not compel its members to pay levies

against their will to the “Standard”

! newspaper, or the New Zealand La-' I hour Party or to the “Fighting Fund,” or to make new members pay £4 ’l7s before they start work, then I am pleased to learn of it.” Donnelly said that his motive in re-

signing from the Union and in making public his protest was to maintain a principle. He did not believe in such compulsory payments, and he was prepared to fight for that principle.