FORCED TO PAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23882, 9 August 1939, Page 9

FORCED TO PAY

UNWILLING TRADE UNIONISTS FUNDS FOR LABOUR DAILIES LETTERS QUOTED IN HOUSE (From Our Parliamentary Reporter! WELLINGTON, Aug. 8. Letters from members of trades unions who stated that they were being compelled to contribute to the funds for the establishment of Labour daily newspapers were quoted by Mr W. J. Poison (Opposition, Stratford), when speaking in the debate on the Financial statement in the House of Representatives this evening. Several Government members were inclined to challenge the authenticity of the letters, but Mr Poison offered to place his evidence before any impartial tribunal they cared to name. Mr Poison said that waitresses employed in the Nurses' Home at Wellington Hospital had been told that thev must pay 3d a week for the Labour papers. He quoted from a letter from a waterside worker, who said that members of that union last vear had had to pay £1 into the Standard newspaper, 10s to the Labour Party's fighting fund, and were now being forced to pay £1 each toward Labour dailies. The Wellington Clothing Workers' Union was increasing its dues to enable the union to assist in the establishment of Labour dailies. Mr Poison said that railway servants by secret ballot were forced to pay £IO,OOO from their funds towards Labour Party dailies and 2380 men had voted against the proposal. , Mr A. G. Osborne (Govt., Onehunga): How many voted for it? Mr Poison: That is not the point. The point is that 2380 men did not wish to contribute but they are being compelled to pay a share of this £IO,OOO toward a public company. The Minister of Railways (Mr D. G. Sullivan): There are 24,000 railwaymen. Mr Poison: The law is being defied and 2380 men are being forced to do something that is entirely illegal. Mr A. S. Richards (Govt., Roskill): You don't like majority rule. Mr Poison added that the fear of union black-listing prevented unionists expressing disagreement with Labour's policy.