LABOURERS' UNION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22901, 2 December 1937, Page 17

LABOURERS' UNION

HAMILTON BRANCH'S ACTION DISBANDMENT NOT ACCEPTED [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Wednesday The action of the Auckland Builders' and General Labourers' Union in disbanding the Hamilton branch of the union as a disciplinary measure formed the subject of a very heated debate at a meeting of branch members in Hamilton last evening. Public notice had been given prior to the meeting that the branch had been disbanded and cancelled, that the branch secretary, Mr. It. P. Smith, had no authority to act on' the union's behalf and that Mr. R. Witt, of Franktoil, was the recognised official representative of the union for the distinct. There was an attendance of 50 at the meeting. Mr. F. JO. Bradley, president of the Auckland Union, occupied the chair, and associated with him was the* general secretary, Mr. T. Stanley. Several members of the Auckland executive were also present. Mr. F. T. Mills, president of the Hamilton branch, and other local officials, occupied back seats. Mr, Mills read a telegram from the registrar of trade unions, "Wellington, advising that the Hamilton branch was still a registered body. Mr. Stanley said that when the Hamilton branch was formed the Auckland executive took exception to its decision to retain 40 per cent of the subscriptions collected for local expenses. The Auckland executive agreed to take disciplinary action and disband the branch. Mr. Bradley said that if the Hamilton people tried to form a South Auckland Union, the Auckland executive was going to stop it. Mr. B. White asked the chairman to quote the Auckland executive's authority for disbanding the Hamilton branch. Mr. Bradley replied that the authority was the decision of the executive backed by a legal opinion. He added that there were three disgruntled branches, Hamilton, Tauranga and Te Kuiti. It was the duty of the executive to protect the remaining 14 branches, who were solidly behind it, Mr. White moved, and Mr. Mills seconded, "That this meeting has no confidence in the Auckland executive or the general secretary." The Chairman: 1 refuse to take the resolution, and I am going to close the meeting. It is definitely closed. Mr. Bradley then left the chair, Mr. Mills, as local president, assumed control of the meeting. It was resolved that Mr. Smith should still carry on as branch secretary, and that the organisation in Hamilton should continue as before.