TRADE UNION BALLOTS

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11664, 31 October 1923, Page 6

TRADE UNION BALLOTS

GOVERNMENT CONTROL URGED

LYTTELTON FERRY' SERVICE.

p«r tvacq ARSAoiafrion.

CHRISTCHURCH, October 30.

The council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce had before it a communication from the Hastings Chamber asking for the chamber's approval of the following remit to the conference of associated Chambers of Commerce: “That this conference urges tho Government to pass legislation to provide that in all cases where public interests arc liable be affected, and particularly when the issue relates to strikes, trad© union ballots shall be placed under the t.ole control of public officials, and entirely removed from the sphere of those who arc concerned to fee a certain result brought about.” Mr H. Holland said he thought the remit should be endorsed. Thev had heard of secret doors at such ballots. Mr H. H. Smith n.-'ked where they would draw the line? To support the remit would be simply courting disaster. He thought it would be a good idea if the- Government had a representative .present at such ballots. He moved in the direction indicated, but there was* no seconder. It was decided that the chamber could not endorse the remit. Mr W. M. Tyers mentioned that he had been informed the Union Company intended to run the Maori and Maroroa during the summer months.

Mr W. H. Price, the Union Company’s manager at Christchurch and a member of the council, said Mr Tvers’© informant had misinformed him, as the company had no such intention a 6 that mentioned by Mr Tyers. The Wahine wag to undergo overhaul at Lyttelton right away, and would take up the ferrv oervice in conjunction with the Maori early in December. Mr Price’s announcement was received with expressions of satisfaction by tho council.