STATE OF CHAOS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26719, 13 March 1948, Page 8

STATE OF CHAOS

COMMUNIST THREAT

DENUNCIATION BY UNION SECRETARY P.A. AUCKLAND. Mar. 12. “It should be obvious to all that there is afoot a world-wide and foreign-sponsored movement which has as its object the overthrow of all accepted forms of law and order, and the establishment of a state of chaos throughout the democratic nations of the world.” This was stated by the secretary of the Auckland Electrical Workers’ Union, Mr G. Albright, in a report to the largest meeting the union has ever had. The report outlined the executive’s

attitude to the carpenters’ dispute. “ This movement in this country is led hy the New Zealand Communist Party, and should be resisted and attacked, by all honest and wholesome trade unionists. Those who support it are, in my opinion, nothing short of traitors to this country,” Mr Albright declared. Statements in the Carpenters’ Union organ, Union Record, clearly indicated that the dispute was in support of one rate for all workers in industry, irrespective of any degrees of skill, and meant that the overall rate would be that to which the lowest-skilled section was entitled.

“Who would suggest that a painter, for in®ance, is entitled to the same rate as a registered electrician, a radio technician or a trained Jinestaan? ” Mr Albright asked. “ Even the painters themselves are not in support of this contention, which would rob advocates of most of their arguments, wipe out conciliation, and merely leave us with a court or some other wage-setting tribunal.” After outlining to members the history of the carpenters’ dispute in so far as it affected the Electrical Workers’ Union, Mr Albright said: “ In view of the decisions of our Wellington branch, the executive of the Federation of Labour, the Wellington Trades Council, the Labour Government, and my own convictions after a very careful study of the issue. I voted against the carpenters at the Trades Council meeting. I desire my actions in this matter to be endorsed by this executive. This is important in view of the fact that there was a difference of opinion between our delegates.” The report, said Mr Albright, was endorsed by an overwhelming majority ahd a resolution to make it public was enthusiastically carried.