MINISTER BLAMES LABOUR ALLIANCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19225, 12 November 1930, Page 9

MINISTER BLAMES LABOUR ALLIANCE.

OPPOSITION SHOWN TO SELECTION METHODS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, November 12. The suggestion of the Minister of Labour (the Hon S. G. Smith) at yesterday’s deputation that the opposition to the method of selecting the workers’ representatives on the Unemployment Board had not come from the unions, but from the Alliance, was denied by the secretary (Mr J. Roberts). A letter forwarded by the Alliance to various trades unions on the subject has been sent to the “ Evening Post ” since the report of the deputation was published yesterday. It is dated November 3 and signed by Mr Roberts. It bears out the Minister’s suggestion. It says that, as several industrial organisations had communicated with the Alliance requesting the organisation to give a lead as to how the unions should nominate representatives, a special meeting of the Alliance was held on October 2, and the meeting decided to wait on the Minister of Labour to request that the unions should elect two members from the nominations received. A deputation accordingly. waited on the Minister, and he definitely refused to allow the workers to elect representatives, and a circular was forwarded to those affiliated with the Alliance intimating that, as the recognised principle of electing representatives of the Labour movement on any board or council was not followed, the Alliance would not take any part whatever iff the nomination of candidates. As the replies indicated, the affiliated unions did not understand the actual’ procedure by which members of the board would be selected. A special meeting was called, and he was directed by it to communicate with all unions throughout the Dominion with a request that the organised workers should protest against the decision of the Minister.

The letter goes on to deal with the subsequent protest, and an appeal is made to organised workers to support the national organisation in a demand for a ballot.