INTERNAL DISPUTE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27346, 23 March 1950, Page 8

INTERNAL DISPUTE

VICE-PRESIDENT SUSPENDED

AUCKLAND WATERSIDE WORKERS PA AUCKLAND. Mar. 22.

The vice-president, Mr N. Donaldson, has been suspended from all official duties in the Auckland branch of the Waterside Workers’ union. This action, taken this week, came right on the eve of the union elections, now in progress, in which he is standing for the office of president. The suspension of Mr Donaldson is alleged to be based on internal differences which have led to strained relations between him and the national president, Mr H. Barnes, and the case will probably be dealt with by the national executive of the union. Mr Donaldson is the Auckland Waterside Workers’ Union delegate to the Labour Representation Committee and the Trades Council. He is a member of both the Port Committee and the Auckland Harbour Board, and a member of the National Council. His union suspension does not affect his membership of the Harbour Board. There are three candidates in Auckland for the presidency, which becomes vacant through the impending retirement of Mr Barnes who, on April 1, will become a full-time salaried officer of the New Zealand Union. The other two candidates for the office of president are Mr A. Drennan and Mr F. Tanner. Mr Drennan is a former chairman of the New Zealand Communist Party. Mr Donaldson’s election two years ago deposed Mr Drennan from the vice-presidency.

The cost of electric service in the United States has decreased from an average of 7.46d0l for 250 kilowatt hours in 1939 to an average of 7.01d0l for the same amount of service in 1949, statistics of the United States Federal Power Commission show.