UNION FACTIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23077, 30 June 1938, Page 14

UNION FACTIONS

CLERKS AT VARIANCE STORMY MEETING HELD POLITICAL ISSUES RAISED FORMER OFFICERS ELECTED Previously ventilated in circulars issued by two factions within tho organisation, tho affairs of tho Auckland Clerical Workers' "Union were further aired at tho annual meeting last night. A protracted and at times acrimonious discussion, in which political issues were freely introduced, extended over the full evening, and it was found necessary to adjourn the meeting shortly after the ballot was taken for the election of officers. However, a provisional and unofficial count which was subsequently announced showed that the equivalent of the previous executive officers and committee had been returned. With the attendance of members far surpassing anticipations, the Unity Hall was greatly overcrowded by fully 1000 members. Shortly after seven o'clock most, of the seating accommodation was occupied, and at 7.30, when the meeting was timed to commence, not only was the building packed to capacity, but in addition some hundreds of people thronged the vestibule awaiting admission. Several score were unable to secure even standing room. Rigid Checking A rigid system of checking to ensure that solely members of the union were admitted was adopted, and it was only by the presentation of credentials that ballot papers could be obtained. lijdicat:ing the intense factional feeling was tho fact that "tickets" were handed out by adherents of each of the parties that sought election to office. A strong political atmosphere, to which all sides contributed, was indicated by the interjections which interposed an address .by Mr.. W. N. Pharazyn, secretary of the New Zealand Clerical Workers' Association, on tho history of the clerical award proceedings. He said that prior to the introduction of compulsory unionism, j the Auckland Union had decided to affiliate with the Federation of Labour, | but, following the- change which made membership of the union compulsory, the decision had not been carried out. However, the New Zealand Clerical Association, to which the Auckland Union belonged, had linked up with the federation, thus making independent action on the part of Auckland unnecessary. Funds and Labour Party A Voice: Can you tell us what the Federation of- Labour is? Mr. Pharazyn said this was not exactly his job, , but, replying to the laughter which arose, he added that if they wanted information he could talk just as long as they wanted him to. The Federation of Labour was not the Labour Party and bore no connection to it. Not one penny of the union's funds had been contributed to th'> Labour Party. "Our job is not to support any political party, but there is no getting away from the fact that there is nothing more political than wages," he said. "As soon as you consider wages you cannot help but bring in politics to some extent." Dealing with the effect of the clerical awards, Mr. Pharazyn said the increases which they had brought about in wages had meant nearly ad extra £500,000 to the employees, "and he thought the new award might conceivably represent nn additional £260,000 a year. He declared that the union did not want politics, but they were being forced upon it by certain interests. Payment by TTnlon Continuing, Mr. Pharazyn referred to the work performed by the Alliance of Labour on behalf of the union in its early stages, and said that the better conditions of clerical workers were mainly due to tho work performed without recompense by officials of tho industrial labour movement. In reply to further questions. Mr. Pharazyn'stated that £45 had been contributed by the Auckland union to the association" for payment to the Federation of Labour, with which the association was affiliated. This sum was a portion of the total amount payable by the union to the association. Further confusion arose when the election of officers was announced, several score of members, who were the last to bo admitted, claiming that they had not received ballot papers. Others, unable to survive the crush within the hall, found the break in the proceedings a welcome opportunity to leave. Further papers were issued to those who had previouslv not received them, but only about 800 votes were cast.

Following the adjournment of the meeting, provisional and unofficial results of the ballot were announced as follows, all the successful candidates being members of the "ticket" circulated by the original executive:—President, Mr. L. DoroC 448 votes; vicepresident, Miss F. Eccles, 415; executive, Mr. R. Lvfortl, 461, Miss J. Gow, 460. Mr. R. Barclay, 452, Mr. J. Orr, 450. The unsuccessful candidates w,ere: — President, Mr. E. W. Taylor, 381; vice-president, Mr. R. S. Woollams, 306; executive. Miss R. M. West, 370, Mr. W. .T. Allingham. 367. Mr. J1 B. Fawcett, 365, Miss L. M. McMath, 337.