EMPLOYEES OF LOCAL BODIES

Southland Times, Issue 22917, 16 June 1936, Page 8

EMPLOYEES OF LOCAL BODIES

SUGGESTION FOR DOMINION UNION CONDEMNED. (United Press Association.) Wellington, June 15. Strong exception to a circular to local bodies issued by the Town Clerk of Napier, 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 Related Trades. For many years, said Mr Butler, the majority of local bodies had been parties to awards or agreements covering their employees, and no serious objection had been lodged to this policy. It had been ruled by the Courts on several occasions that “all in” unions were unnecessary where there existed an industrial union or unions to which the employees could properly and conveniently belong. This position still held, Mr Butler added, and he contended the Government could be relied upon to see that neither employers nor employees took an unfair advantage of the legislation. He characterized the Napier suggestion as will-of-the-wisp, causing a misunderstanding where there need not be any. The circular suggested action which was contrary to the law and the policy of the Government.