LOCAL BODY CIRCULAR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 15 June 1936, Page 3

LOCAL BODY CIRCULAR

FORMATION OF UNION STRONG EXCEPTION TAKEN (By Telegraph—Press Association) WELLINGTON, This Day. Strong exception to a circular to local bodies issued by the Napier town clerk, urging the formation of a Dominion local bodies’ employees’ union was taken by Mr P. M. Butler, Secretary of the National Federation of Labourers and Related Trades. “For many years,” said Mr Butler “the majority of local bodies have been parties to awards or agreements covering their respective employees and no serious objection has been lodged to this policy. It has been ruled by the courts on several occasions that “all in” unions are unnecessary where there exists an industrial union or unions, to which employees could properly ana conveniently belong. This position still holds,” Mr Butler added, and he contended that the Government could be relied upon to see that neither employers nor employees took unfair advantage of the legislation He characterised the Napier suggestion as a “will o’ the wisp,” causing misunderstanding where there need not be any. The circular suggested action which was contrary io the law and policy of the Government.