THE PAID UNION OFFICIALS.

Waipa Post, Volume 44, Issue 3180, 21 May 1932, Page 5

THE PAID UNION OFFICIALS.

Sir,—lt is quite apparent from the prevailing conditions in New Zealand that the so-called unionism is an utter failure. I can safely say that 60. per cent of the workers, who have been forcibly associated with their respective unions, are against the policy of coercive Communism adopted by high-ly-paid officials. These individuals, in a crisis like the present, rush to Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch to attend conferences, and all we get is a report that in order to protest against the 10 pari cent cut, etc., we should have a 24-hour strike. They talk about organising the workers when, all along, officials have been paid high salaries to perform these specific duties. Who pays for this ? The worker. I notice that the Trades and Labour Council is requesting all trade unionists who are in the position to do so to levy themselves weekly to support the tram strikers in Christchurch, while a very highly-paid official toddles down from Wellington just to watch, the proceedings of the conference between the strikers and the Tramway Board. Who, then, pays for this ? The workers.

Where has all the money gone that has been paid in subscriptions during these last ten or fifteen years ? These same officials prate about unionism, Comimunism, and a host of other “ isms ” for the emancipation of the worker, and to give him complete freedom of thought and action they nail him down under a “ preference to unionists ” clause. To elaborate upon the virtues of these gentlemen would be tiresome. One of them, who is said to be associated wtth a profitable private business, endeavoured to obtain from his union running expenses Uor his car to the extent of 3d per mile. Eventually the workers will be compelled to take action, and will remove from their midst these acquisitive individuals.—l am, etc., ORION.