TAKEN TO TASK

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19031, 3 June 1936, Page 15

TAKEN TO TASK

BANK* OFFICERS' GUILD "FACTS NOT CORRECT" MINISTER'S COMMENTS (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, tins day. la the course nf n statement which takes the Bank Officers' Guild to task in connection with the recent memorandum, which he indicates does not state the facts correctly, the Hon. 11. T. Armstrong, Minister of Labour, says :hat both the Prime Minister and himself told them quite clearly that if they did not register as a union they would certainly be absorbed in another union.

hi regard to Australia, Mr. Armstrong says that if the truth is told to bank employees it would be that bank officers in Australia fought in the Arbitration Court for the increased .ages and improved conditions they have obtained. Any increased wages in .New Zealand were granted only lifter they had been fought for and obtained."

•'lu Australia," the circular -ay.., "the guild upposed the nationalisa-tion-of banking at the last election, but was non-political."

"Did anyone ever read such a mass Of .contradiction as the circular contained," states Mr. Armstrong, -who proceeds to criticise the attitude adopted in the event of a ballot favouring the formation of a union, and also' mentioning the fact that a flap is attavhed to the voting papers on which the voter must sign the name of the bank he works in and the branch of the bank. He does not suggest, he says, that the scrutineers will not tear this oft as instructed, but any court of law if asked for a ruling in regard to the result of such secret ballot certainly would declare it mill and void.

He concludes with friendly advice to the Rank Officers.' Guild that they should issue further instructions to the scrutineers asking them to burn the ballot papers when they come to hand before the votes are counted. This follows reference to Continental dictators in their of securing large votes in their favour, and a statement that bank assistants can blame the executive of their guild if they lose the opportunity of retaining their identity as a. separate organisation.