Tyranny Of* Unionism

Northern Advocate, 29 August 1938, Page 4

Tyranny Of* Unionism

Describing the growth of unionism as becoming tyrannical in its compulsion, Mr C. A. Wilkinson M.P. for Egmont, when speaking at Maungatapero on Saturday night, declared that the Labour legislation had * instituted, a scheme of ‘"no union membership—no job." “I have here a labour membership card of the Now Zealand Workers' Union, the cost of which is 25/-." said Mr Wilkinson. ‘‘Of this amount, 5/is allocated as follows; ‘Standard’ newspaper, 2/-; Labour Party's election fund. 2/-;' distressed members’ fund, 1/-. "This kind of thing, I say, is an outrage of liberty. It amounts to this, that you support the Labour Party, or be sacked or scrapped. Gross Interference, “What would be said if private employers tried to do this, if they told every employee to join an organisation and compelled workers to subscribe to the employers’ political campaign funds and party newspapers? I can imagine the protests from the Labour Party as being a gross and inexcusable intereference with the liberty of the individual, and I say it is nothing less than that.

“This kind of thing should never be tolerated in a free country. “Look at the Lyttelton Watersiders* Union, which demands a contribution from members of £4/17/-. made up as follows: Entrance fee. 5/-; weekly contribution of 1/-, totalling £2/12/-; fighting fund, £1; newspaper, £1; total. £4/17/-.

”Wha f we would like to know is the destiny of all this money paid by union members. The outside public certainly dees not know where it goes, and few of the workers themselves do. I maintain that there should be a Government audit of the union’s finances so that the public should know once and for all what is happening to the money paid into the unions.” Mr Wilkinson went on to slate the provisions of certain awards. In some cases, he said, the wages being paid by employers were sufficient to put the latter's industry out of opposition. It a steel factory were to be established. and wages and overtime paid as at present in New Zealand, it would be exceedingly difficult to succeed with, such high overhead expenditure.

"For the young people of IS. 19 and 20. the union regulations arc very hard." said Mr Wilkinson.' "As soon as a young man becomes 21 he is considered to be a married man with three children, and is to be paid accordingly. This is absurd, as it means that boys of 18 and 19 cannot get started in industry owing to the high wages employers will have to pay them in a year or two. The same applies to girls wishing to start in industry between 18 and 20 years of age ”