THE CLERICAL WORKERS' UNION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23226, 25 June 1937, Page 11

THE CLERICAL WORKERS' UNION

TO THE EDITOR Sir,—We join with "Amused "in his amusement and heartily support him in the statements contained in his letter in your issue of Wednesday. In view of the proceedings at the annual meeting it seemed evident that everything was prearranged, and therefore most unnecesary to summon the members together so far as their opinions were concerned. For appearance sake, and in order to comply with the rules, the meeting was no doubt necessary, but we could hardly help thinking that this particular meeting had all been arranged beforehand. When one member moved an awkward and unwanted motion which had not been " prearranged," the chairman passed to other business before there was time to second this particular motion, and when this member again attempted to move in the same direction the chairman refused to accept the motion on the grounds that the requisite notice had not been given. Following on the chairman's ruling in this case, should not the recommendation moved by the persistent gentleman in the hall have been a notice of motion to the next general meeting that the matter of the secretary's salary come up for review at the end of six months' time. To use the words of our worthy secretary, "The union is ours." and yet we have to delegate our powers on matters of this nature to a chosen few to decide, and our opinions are scotched.

The personnel of the chief executive officers of our union is rather interesting, and we rank and file members seem to have had very little say in the selection of them. Our president is the secretary of the Seamen's Union, and our vice-president is a well-known trades union secretary, and also is the father of our secretary. With the experience and outlook obtained over many years of service in trades unions, our president and vice-president will no doubt impregnate our secretary with plenty of good trade union dope. It would be interesting to know if both our president and vice-president are members of the Clerical Workers' Union and subject to the Clerical Workers' Union award. Our secretary, who considers that his heart is in his work, is well known in amateur theatricals, and from the manner in which he recited the annual report and balance sheet we would suggest he should have no difficulty should he lose his secretaryship in finding another situation which would also give him full power to demonstrate his ability in expressing himself. Members can be assured of a good evening's entertainment at a union meeting, but we think that, apart from the entertainment, if they have the union at heart they should attend and view their opinions. It is their privilege and 1 their duty to know what is being done and how the funds are being distributed, even if they are given no say in these matters, and we certainly feel that every member should make a point of being present at the next general meeting, when we trust the matter of the secretary's salary will again receive consideration. The action of a chosen few in moving the affiliation of our union with the Labour Party and thereby increasing our subscription by approximately Is per annum has apparently been the result, also, of our members who are anti-Labour being absent, from these general meetings. Our feeling is that, instead of having to pay the Labour Party large sums for being affiliated, it should pay for the privilege of having us joined to their party. It certajnly was most amusing the way our worthy secretary " implored and beseeched " the lady members not. to attempt to reduce their subscription, but had no hesitation in accepting the increase in his salary, which amount would have helped to increase the funds of the union, this, according to our secretary, being desperately needed. —We are, etc.. June 24. Wildflowers.