UNION SECRETARIES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 257, 29 October 1937, Page 9

UNION SECRETARIES

“HAVE NO BUSINESS TO INTERFERE” ENTRY TO INSTITUTION NAPIER, Oct. 27. “It is an iniquitous position, and it is carrying this union business too far. Union secretaries have no business to interfere,” said Mr. R. W. Wallace, at a meeting of the Parke Island Joint Committee this morning, when the action of a union secretary in entering' the Old People’s Home at Dannevirke recently came before the committee. As a result of the secretary’s visit complaints were made regarding work done by the inmates of the institution. After discussion during which strong exception was taken to the interfer-| ence by the union, the meeting decid- | ed to write to the Minister of Health, Hon. P. Fraser, reporting the union secretary’s visit and asking whether such action was justifiable. The matter was raised by Mr. L. Stein, who said the men in the home had been doing certain odd jobs and had thereby come under notice of the union secretary. “We have been having a little trouble at Dannevirke, and I visited the home a few days ago for the purpose of looking into the matter,” said the chairman, Mr. A. E. Bedford. “None of our men have to do any work. If they want to do an odd job or two they may do so and they occasionally get some little bonus for it, but there is no compulsion whatever. I object very strongly to any union secretary going into our homes and upsetting men as this man at Dannevirke has done. He should not go into the home to catechise the men and tell them this thing and that. It is not helping the position at all.” Perhaps the committe should make objection in some form or other to the Minister of Health, said Mr. W. H. Rathbone. Many of the inmates were physically fit and liked for recreation a little work to fill in time. This was done of their own free will and was not compulsory, but what they did certainly merited a little recompense. Mr. R. W. Wallace: Union secretar-

ies have no right to interfere. It is an iniquitous position and is carrying this union business too far. Mr. Rathbone moved that the chairman and managing secretary be empowered to report the facts of the union secretary’s visit and ask the Minister for an expression of his feelings as to whether it was justifiable for union secretaries to enter these homes and try and upset the temperament of the inmates. The motion was seconded by Mr. R. Harding and carried.