MONEY & MAJORITIES.

Wairarapa Age, 1 August 1936, Page 5

MONEY & MAJORITIES.

PROVISIONS OF GOVERNMENT BILL. FUNDS OF ALL SOCIETIES & ORGANISATIONS. MADE AVAILABLE FOR POLITICAL OBJECTS. (By Telegraph—“ The Age” Special.) WELLINGTON, July 31. The provision in the Political Disabilities Removal Bill giving the right to Public Service and other employees’ organisations to devote funds to political objects is more comprehensive than had at first been indicated. The measure was introduced in the House of Representatives by GovernorGeneral’s Message to-day. It provides that public servants may stand for election to Parliament and shall vacate their office if elected, the period of candidature being regarded as one on which they will be on leave without Pay.

The Bill goes on to authorise the application of the funds of any society to the furtherance of political objects if a majority of the members so decide by a resolution passed on a ballot of members taken in accordance with the society’s rules or regulations made under this particular section of the law. Any such resolution may be revoked at any time by the same method. A sub-clause states: “The provisions of this section shall apply to any society notwithstanding that there is no provision in the rules of th*e society authorising the use of its funds for the furtherance of political objects.” The Act is specifically to apply to any society of public servants, an industrial union registered under the Arbitration Act 1925, and a trade union registered under the Trades Union Act 1908.

A brief Ministerial explanation of the measure on its introduction was given by the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, Attorney-General, who made it clear that not only Public Service organisations, but also trade unions would be given the right to decide by a majority vote whether any portion of their funds should be applied to political objects.

Mr. W. J. Broadfoot.: “That means contributions to political parties!” The Minister: “Spending the money as they wish. There is no limit, but my friend will be able to discuss that later. We thought it was not for us to decide the limit.”

"What do you expect to get out of it!” asked the Leader of the Opposition (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes). The Hon. W. E. Parry: "Do you suppose you will get anything yourself!” Several members of the Opposition strongly criticised the Bill, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates warning the Government that it was undermining a structure of which New Zealand was proud, while Mr. W. J. Polson suggested that the Dominion might get into the same position as the United States, where, after a change of Government following a bitter fight, tens of thousands of public servants were tipped out. The Bill was read a first time.