LOCAL BODY EMPLOYEES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19041, 15 June 1936, Page 5

LOCAL BODY EMPLOYEES

SEPARATE UNION PLAN

STRONG PROTEST MADE

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, this day. Strong exception to a circular to local bodies issued by the Napier town clerk urging the formation of a Dominion Local Bodies Employees' Union is taken by Mr. P. M. Butler, secretary of the National Federation of Labourers and Eclated Trades. For many years, said Mr. Butler, a majority of local bodies had been parties to awards or agreements covering their respective employees, and no serious objection had been lodged to this policy. It had been ruled by the courts on several occasions that "allin" unions were unnecesary where there exists an industrial union or unions to which the employee* could properly and conveniently belong. This position still holds, Mr. Butler added, and he contended that the Government could be relied upon to see that neither employers or employees took unfair advantage of the legislation. He characterised the Napier suggestion as a will of the wisp, causing misunderstanding where there need not be any. The circular suggested action which was contrary to law and the policy of the Government:.