ONE BIG UNION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1932, 28 January 1919, Page 3

ONE BIG UNION.

WHAT UOLICE AND FI REM EN ✓ MAY. “SCHEME NO GOOD TO US.” No official notification ol' I lie decision ul' I he One Big Union Conference in Melbourne lo include in its ranks under Ihe (dassificnlion of “’public safely” the police and firemen had been received by represcnlalivcs of oil her of those bodies in Sydney up lo the time the lasti mail left (according' to the Sun). As far as can he gathered, the organisers may save themselves (In? trouble of sending a notification, for, according to the men, the up- 1 peal would fall on deaf ears. THE POLICEMAN'S POSITION. There are strong objections by policemen to joining a union, particularly the One Big Union. “in the event of a strike, it’s the policeman's job and duly to keep order amongst the strikers, and, as a matter of fact, to help in ending the trouble. His oath to his King and country keeps him to this obligation. Therefore that fact alone would make it impracticable for him to Join a union,” said one of the constables. Again, the police share the opinion held by very many others, that the 0.8. U. is a dangerous organisation as far as peace and prosperity arc concerned, and on that account they arc disinclined to dabble with it. WHAT El RE MEN. THINK. There are three divisions of tiremen permanent, partially paid men, and volunteers. It is believed that the permanent staff of the Metropolitan Brigade will have nothing to do the Big Union scheme. Most of the men dislike those who are engineering it, and they, like the members of the police force, will have no truck with Bolshevism and 1.W.W.-ism, which they aver are two of the elements actuating the scheme. A fortnight ago, at a meeting of the employees’ union the 0.8. U. ipiesfion came up for dismission. A ballot was decided on, but up to the present it has not been taken. Tho firemen expect very few of their number to vote for affiliation with the scheme. COUNTRY UNIONISTS. The volunteer firemen mostly live in the country, and a good .many of (hem belong to other trade unions. It is therefore hard to define their attitude towards the big movement. It is also stated on authority that amongst the partially-paid firemen as a whole the 0.8. U. is unpopular, add> the Sun.