WORKERS’ BALLOT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20784, 20 July 1937, Page 4

WORKERS’ BALLOT

CONFUSION RESULTS By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND. July 19. Confusion exists in connection with the secret ballot which is being conducted by the Labour Department among gas works employees throughout the Dominion, to determine whether they will join the national Union, or remain in their own organisation. Apparently the original intention was that the ballot should embrace all workers engaged in the manufacture, distribution and sale of gas. but according to advice received in Auckland, from the secretary of the Federation of Labour, Mr F. Cornwell, tradesmen are now excluded, as the voting is secret. Officials of the I.abour Department to-day, were not prepared to discuss the matter, apart from intimating that the ballot would be conducted in Auckland to-morrow. The issue is whether the workers’ desire to be members of the proposed New Zealand Gas Employees Union or of the existing union governing the work in which they are engaged. The Labour Department states that it has come to its notice that circulars have been issued by the national secretary of the Gas Workers Union advising the workers how to vote. The Government desires it to be understood that the workers are free to vote as they wish and not to have any regard to any directions given by either side.