AMALGAMATED ENGINEERING UNION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18877, 1 June 1923, Page 8

AMALGAMATED ENGINEERING UNION.

“A BOLSHEVIST ORGANISATION.' VISIT OF THE DUKE OF YORK. THE “SCOTCH LASSIE." (Feom Oub Own Coseespondent.) LONDON, April 20. In connection with the Industrial Welfare Society, of which he is president, the Duke of York .paid an informal visit to the headquarters of the Amalgamated Engineering Union in Peokham. Mr K. Hyde, director of the Industrial Welfare Society, stated his belief that this was the first occasion on which a member of the Royal Family had visited the offices of a trade union, and declared that the event was significant of a generous recognition of the Duke’s interest in. industrial affairs. He was' received by Mr J. Brownlie, president of the A.E'.U. (who was one of the visiters to the Duke’s seaside camp last year), Mr A. H. Smethurst (general secretary), Mr W. H. Hutchinson (till recently a member of the council of the Industrial Welfare Society), and Mr F. S. Button (who was a member of that body until appointed to the Industrial Court). Having shaken hands with the Duke and presented his colleagues, Mr Brownlie said: “And now let me take you inside, Sir, and initiate you into the details of a Bolshevist organisation.’ The Duke laughed heartily and accepted the invitation with alacrity. He was taken to the council chamber, where practically all tho members of the council of the A.E.U. were assembled,, and with each in turn he shook hands cordially. WHAT THE' UNION MEANS. Mr Brownlie told the Royal visitor something of what this trade union meant. There were 320,000 members and 1800 branches located in all ports of the Kingdom—he might almost say, in every quarter of the English-speaking world. There were branches in Australia. New Zealand, South Africa, and India; and there were formerly branches in the United States and Canada. These countries now had their own organisations, but worked in harmony with the union. The Duke might suppose that in coming to the headquarters of a great trade union he was visiting some sort of Bolshevist organisation more concerned to promote strife than peace; but nothing could lie further from the fact. Since the formation of the union they had collected £17,500,000 in contributions, levies, entrance fees, and revenue from investments, and had expended their money on such objects as: Unemployed and dispute benefit, £4,589,718; sick benefit, £2,455,727; superannuation, £3,718,511; accident grants, £143,231; benevolent grants', £200,843; funeral benefits, £094,110; and assistance to other trade unions, £466,118. In superannuation, they paid from 7s to 10s per week to members of 25 years’ service and over. - From a balcony the Duke viewed eight cottages originally built for the accommodation of officers of the executive. It was explained to him that the cottages were not now occupied by executive officers, and Mr Smethurst raised a laugh by remarking that those who made this provision did not understand human nature. "It is all very well to work together, but it is too much to ask na to live together.” In tho course of a complete tour of tho buildings, tho Duke greeted many of the officials and asked questions about organisation which betokened keen interest in all the details. He saw the ‘first minute book of the union, dated January, 1851, which gave a record of the members present; he was shown the (method of taking a ballot, and convinced of the absolute secrecy of the procedure; he was told that letters received per week ranged from 15,000 to 20,000. Mr Brownlie introduced "an old shopmate of mine at Woolwich,” and after the Duke had shaken hands with the official, Mr Brownlie indicated to the latter Wing-commander Gveig, whom ho described as " an old - townie of mine.” “And now come into my own workshop,” he said, leading the way to hia office, nore refreshments were handed out " for a special purpose.” He remarked with a smile that this was not their invariable, or even their usual, practice, or they might be getting numerous applications for honorary membership. His purpose was to ask those present to join him in wishing long life and every happiness to the Duke of York and his future bride. Turning to the Duke, lie said: “May the step you are about to take be thehappiest of your life, and may it continue so. Take my assurance that you are perfectly safe in the hands of a. Scotch lassie. ’