THE UNION SECRETARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14566, 31 December 1910, Page 5

THE UNION SECRETARY.

SIS TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS.

Addressing the General Labourers' Conference In Wellington on Wednesday, Mr. P. Shan nor., retiring president, condemned the rule under which th-3'office of secretary iB held subject to periodical contests.

" Apart from it? absurdity," Mr. Shannon remarked, "and its manifest injustice to a capable man, it is irritatingly annoying to those responsible for the good management of the union. The rule that admits of this farce is one of tbe many anomalies which, get into rule-books at the inception of unions. The rale as it now stands leaves it open to any navvy in the union who may be suffering from illusions to get himself nominated regardless of competency or character. 'la the meantime he can foster a spirit of discontent among men whom the secretary has compelled to pay fees. This Gilbertian style of electing a secretary la advocated on the grounds of being, democratic. Well, if this is what, we may expect from democracy, if ever it gets in the ascendant, it wants leavening with eome of those elements of conservative stability that stand for what is fair and just. " A trades union is not a place for displaying sentiment— is not reason, and when we dispense with reason in union management the union .also must soon go. Another contention is that this system is in vogue in Australia, but this is no plea for its adoption. We develop erratic notions enough here without embarrassing ourselves with Australian idiosyncrasies. We are lectured too much on things Australian by blatant demagogues. There exists an erroneous impression that the mobile Australian has arrived at perfection in politics, while he is only washed up to the crest of the wave that may recede at any time. It looks -ill right at a distance, but, like the mystery that Psyche solved with regard to Proserpine's beauty, when pre comes near it it is mostly vapour. "You would be aroused as well as astounded were you to know some of the causes that keep some unionists tilting at the secretary. He cannot wear a decent hat but 'that it is construed into exultant ostentation. His position is regarded as a sort of nabob ship on a small scale. He must needs oe a. Lazarus with a propensity for parading his humility."