ALLIANCE OF LABOUR

Southland Times, Issue 19655, 4 October 1922, Page 5

ALLIANCE OF LABOUR

POST AND TELEGRAPH PETITION DEBATE IN THE HOUSE LABOUJI PROTEST AGAINST ; . 'MINISTER’S ACTION. - (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, October 3. In the House of Representatives this afternoon, Mr J. M. Dickson (Chalmers) chairman of the M. to Z. Public Petitions' Committee, laid on, the table the* report 'of the committee* on the petition of the Post and Telegraph Association praying that it might have the right to with the Alliance of Labour. The committee recommended that the |x*tition be referred to the Government, and that the evidence be attached to the report. Mr H. E. Holland I Buller I asked the Premier to give the House an assurance that they would have an opportunity to bring the discussion to a conclusion irrespective of the time limit, as he proposed to move that the report be referred back to the Committee for reconsideration. Mr Massey said he would be better able to indicate what could be done at 7,30. Mr Holland then proceeded to review the circumstances which led to the petition being presented. A ballot of the members of the Association was taken with the approval of the Postmaster-General, but when the ballot resulted in a majority of 2406 in favour of affiliation the Government prohibited affiliation taking place. The Government’s action was similar to that of the German special laws of 1875, and was in contravention of the Versailles Treaty which was signed by the Premier. During the hearing the Postmaster-General admitted that fhe Association was within its legal rights in affiliating with the Alliance of Labour, and he asked Mr Coombs, “Why don’t you go ahead and do it?” They did not go ahead because the Government, forbade them doing it, with the implication that if I hey did so they would be dismissed. The Postmaster-General would

not give an. assurance to the Committee that if affiliation took place men would not be dismissed until the courts had decided the legality of their action. Dealing with the counter-petition, he declared that intimidation yas used to induce juniors to sign it. Of this they had and would produce ample evidence. He denied that affiliation would affect in any way the loyally of the men to the Department, and he wanted to know why the railwaymen should be allowed to affiliate when the Post and Telegraph men were not allowed to do so. This was the first step to an attack upon the railwaymen. If such a step were taken it would invite the antagonism of labour throughout the Dominion. He moved that the report be referred back to the Committee. Sir John Luke (Wellington North) said there was just as much justification for the counter-petition as there was for the first, petition. There must be a government in the country, and no public department should be controlled by an outside authority. He denied that any improper pressure was brought to bear to get. signatures to the counter-petition. For the Post and Telegraph Association to join up with the Alliance of Labour was not in the best interests of the country, for in time of stress and strike /he control of the Department would pass*nto the control of the Alliance and no covering provisions could prevent it. The Government and not an outride body should control the government of the country. Before the House rose at. 4.30, the Premier announced that he did not propose to continue the discussion at 7.30, but would give the House an opportunity to resume it to-morrow afternoon at the close of the formal business.