Anti – Communists Met By Torchlight

Northern Advocate, 7 May 1948, Page 7

Anti - Communists Met By Torchlight

UPROAR AMONG WOOLLEN WORKERS

AUCKLAND, Fri. (P.A.). —Uproar developed at a special meeting last night of the Auckland Woollen Workers’ Union called as the result of a petition of members seeking to overthrow the sitting officers.

The petition alleged that the affairs of the union were being conducted under Communist influence.

The President of the Union (Mr S. Frankton) ruled that the meeting was out of order, whereupon a group of members rallied in an impromptu meeting and declared their refusal to acknowledge the present officials, elected trustees of the union, and decided to call a special meeting next week.

When the hall lights were switched off this group carried on the meeting in torchlight. Later the sitting executive held a meeting in the same hall. It was claimed that the petitioners and their supporters had a 98 per cent majority at the meeting. • “UNION” OR “OFFICE” The president, according 'tv the spokesman of the petitioners told the meeting that it was not constitutional to remove the "GfUcers from the uiTion because, if they were out of the union, they could not legally be employed in factories. Thereupon, the spokesman alleged, the president ruled the meeting was out of order, and could not be held to have been in order. It was stated: “The petition should have read ‘ the removal of officials from office.’ ”

The meeting developed into an uproar, with cries of “point of order” from various sections of the 70 members present. The petitioners claimed that the leaders of the union, in the interests of members, should have pointed out that the word “union” in the petition should be changed to “office.” HEATED ARGUMENT The acting-secretary of the union (Mr Andrew Lees) is reported to have declared the meeting closed and to have said he had given an undertaking to have the hall vacated as soon as the business finished.

Heated argument continued, petitioners and supporters refusing to leave the hall.

They elecfed ITTr J. O’Neill chairman and held an impromptu meeting. They also called a special meeting for next Wednesday to precede the general meeting that night. While this impromptu meeting was' continuing, threats' are alleged to have been made that police intervention would be sought to clear the hall.