COMMUNISTS OUT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17572, 24 June 1925, Page 7

COMMUNISTS OUT.

LABOURERS TAKE A STAND. . A SECRETIVE SECRETARY "Working himself into an excited state, when approached by a reporter this morning, Mr 11. Worrall, secretary of the Canterbury General Labourers’ Union, emphatically and finally refused to supply any information whatever of what happened at the annual meeting of that union last night. “ You will get absolutely no information from me,” declared Mr Worrall with emphasis when asked if he would supply a list of tho new officers o f the union for publication. The reported reminded Mr Worrall that in former years it had been the usual thing to supply the ncwspapeis with a report of the union's annual meeting. Again came a heated refusal to ten the reporter anything at all of what took place, Mr Worrall stated that *ueh a report could only come from the president. When asked who the president was, be said that the president was too busy at bis work to be bothered with newspaper reporters. Mr Worrall wound up uis refusal with r. tirade against newspapers in general. Failing to gain any information from the official source, the reporter made other inquiries and he learned that certain revolutionary changes hod been made in the union’s officers at the meeting. Front unofficial sources it was ascertained that the meeting was very largely attended; it, was probably the best attended annual meeting of th • union that has been held. The meeting was also exceptionally lively and is stated to have lasted until close on midnight: even at, that time certain matters had not been finally settled. ( hiel interest at the meeting centred in the election of officers and as a result of organised action. Mr S. Fournier. the recognised leader of the Communists in Christchurch, together with another Communist .were defeated for oil the positions for which they were nominated. Numerous ballots were held during tho evening and the proceedings were at times of an extremely lively nature. Among the, positions which Mr Fournier failed to secure was that of delegate to tho Canterbury’ Trades anil Labour Council. The action of the Labour Representation Committee in excluding the union's delegates, who had refused to sign the. pledge of loyal tv to the Labour Party, was also discussed at length. It is understood that finality or. this question was not. reached.