CRITICS ROUTED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21360, 1 June 1939, Page 16

CRITICS ROUTED

CIVIL SERVICE LEADER GIVES REPLY DIRECT (Special—By Air Mall) LONDON, May 13. When his recent visit to Australia was criticised at the annual conference of the Civil Service Clerical Association, which met this week at Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, Mr W. J. Brown, the general secretary, attacked his critics in typical forthright fashion. A delegate moved a resolution condemning the secrecy of Mr Brown’s visit to Australia last autumn. He demanded to know the cost of the trip and whether it was worth while. Other delegates suggested that Australian civil servants who consulted Mr Brown should pay part of the cost of the visit, which the finance officer revealed cost the association £4OO. Mr Bro-wn who is one of the most controversial figures in the British trade union movement, replied: “I had better clear this up before I go to Canada. lam getting impatient of the kind of criticism we have heard here to-day and I tell you categorically that I will not stand much more of it. "I did not ask the Australians to pay my hotel bills,” he continued. “I paid them myself. I did not ask the executive for a penny. They gave me a grant from their own good will. I suggest this critical kind of outlook is parochial and unworthy. If I thought it was the attitude of our membership we should soon part company. “I think you pay me £lOOO a year,” he announced. “You paid me that in 1925 and it is now 1939. After the niggardly. pedantic. suspicious, puerile, pettyfogging, piffling and impertinent speeches I have heard here to-day I am almost inclined to say I will make a claim for wages on a fair market basis and pay my own expenses to Australia, Canada or whenever circumstances may call me. Tins kind of discussion lowers the dignity of our association and is unfair to the individual who is the subject of it.” The resolution was defeated by 400 to an and Bill Brown received one of tne greatest, ovations in ms CC” from the conference.