THE UNION ISSUE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 173, 23 June 1936, Page 7

THE UNION ISSUE.

BALLOT BY BANKS. MINISTER’S REFERENCE. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, June 23. Humorously exposing the method adopted in the taking of a secret ballot on the union issue, the Minister of Labour (Hon. H. T. Armstrong) had some fun last night at ’he expense of the batik clerks. The Minister was addressing a meeting at the Trades Hall, when he explained the policy underlying the new industrial legislation. Referring to compulsory unionism, the Minister stated that the banks had made an effort to avoid its provisions. Some of the employees had sa.id to him that they did not wish to be piaeed under Trades Hall domination ; that would have been “infra dig.” He had replied that it was “damned snobbery.” He had given them a certain number of days in which to register a. union, warning them that if they did not comply with this there was a danger that thev would he absorbed by some other union. “A ballot was taken,'’ added the Minister.” On one side of the ballot paper wore instructions how to vote and on the other side was a space set out for the name of the voter, his address, the hank he was employed bv. and the branch in which he worked. That, mind you, was a secret baljot (laughter). ‘Subsequently. I was informed that a majo ity of workers had voted against the formation of a union. Was it any wonder? Now they a'-e .forming a gui'd, and stupidly imagine that, they are going to get away with it. Some lawyers and some soft' goods firms are trying it as well. I can tell them that they won’t get away with it,” the Minister declared.