FOL 'Amazed' At Holland's T.U. Policy

Northern Advocate, 29 October 1949, Page 5

FOL 'Amazed' At Holland's T.U. Policy

WELLINGTON, Sat. (P.A.). —A reply to the National Party policy regarding trade union affairs contained in Mr Holland’s speech at Christchurch was made last night by the secretary of the national executive of the Federation of Labour (Mr K. McL. Baxter) in a telegram to Mr Holland. The telegram stated that the Federation of Labour is amazed at the unprecedented proposals for the destruction of the present democratic administration of trade union affairs by political control through the Electoral Department as contained in the National Party policy.

“This is regimentation of the workers almost identical with the policies of the Hitler and Stalin regimes,” the telegram said. “While all other sections of ’ the community offering or withholding a commodity for sale are to be released from all controls, the worker offering for sale his labour, even under conditions where to con’inue may endanger life and limb, is to be penalised and declared black and banned from obtaining any other remuneration, thus unjustly facing capitulation through starvation of men, women and children. “The national council of the Federation of Labour is being summoned to a special meeting in Wellington to discuss this reactionary and dictatorial threat which, if not withdrawn, will have most serious effects.

"Relationship between the unions and employers had never been better, and the National Party threat to over 350,000 loyal trade unionist electors and their employers, must have grave consequences on the happy relations now existing, and a consequential effect on the present record production levels and economic prosperity of the whole community.”