POWER OF UNIONS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 39, 16 February 1939, Page 8

POWER OF UNIONS

VICTIMSATION ALLEGED AUSTRALIAN VISITOR’S EXPERIENCES FORCED FROM HOTELS BY BOYCOTT THREATS I Per Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 15. Threats that two hotels would be boycotted if they gave him any service whatever have caused Mr. Frank Goldberg, of Sydney, governing director of the Goldberg Advertising Agency, to move out of them. Mr. Goldberg, who arrived in Christchurch yesterday, said that the alleged reason for the boycott threats was that he had discouraged the Labour Party, that he had assembled the stall of the Waterloo Hotel in Wellington and advised them to vote for the National Paiiy and that he had said that all who voted for Labour had received a "bonus” of £5 each.

j After moving out of one hotel jn the city to save the manager any embarrassment by his presence Mr. Goldberg is now ensconced in the vice-regal suite at another. In his efforts to find the cause of i the actions directed against him Mr. ' Goldberg has consulted the Prime I Minister, Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, I who said the matter would be ad- ' justed. Mr. Savage himself agreed i that Mr. Goldberg was entitled to 'undertake publicity for the National I Party and that everything he had 'done had been within his rights. History of Threats. Tracing the history of the boycott threats Mr. Goldberg said they had , begun in Auckland last September, iWhile he was at the Grand Hotel he had been called out by the manager : who told him that the secretary of - the Hotel Workers’ Union (Mr. J. ! Young? had threatened to declare the hotel "black” if Mr. Goldberg received any service at all. His were not to be handled; he was not to receive any meals; in fact he was not to stay at the hotel. “I immediately had a conference [with Mr. Young,” continued Mr. Goldiberg, who said the secretary had ex-

plained his position fairly. The Sea,men’s Union in Wellington, said Mr. [Young, declared that Mr. Goldberg [was stated to have slighted the Labour Party and was supposed to have 'advised the staff of the Waterloo Hotel to vote National. He told Mr. Young how ridiculous the charges 'were and that he was entitled to 1 make criticism. Mr. Young said he [ would have to obtain proof of the [ charges. Shortly after Mr. Goldi berg left on his return to Sydney. (Returning on his present visit to New Zealand Mr. Goldberg passed througn 'Auckland without incident. Reaching [Wellington he booked in at the Water'loo Hotel, but before breakfast the (manager informed him that the secretary of the Seamen’s Union, Mr. F. Walsh, and Mr. Young had been (into the hotel and had told him they would treat it as a hostile act if Mi. Goldberg stayed in the hotel.

Long Discussion. Mr. Goldberg had a long discussion with the manager of the hotel. “While the hotel people would not say that. I had to go they put it up 'to me that their beer supply would (be stopped if I did not go, continued Mr. Goldberg. "This threat was actually put into effect." The hotel manager asked Mi. Goldberg to have a consultation with | Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C., and Mr. ’David Madden, of the directorate of [New Zealand Breweries. They told him they were in the workers’ hands and to save the hotel management any embarrassment Mr. Goldberg left quietly on Saturday.

"In the meantime I saw my own legal people who said I had a wonderful case,” continued Mr. Goldberg. "They said the people of this 'country would not stand for victimisation and interference with individual liberty.” Message Received. On his arrival in the city yesterday morning Mr. Goldberg went to •the United Service Hotel and registered, but while he was having his .breakfast he received an urgent mesIsage from the licensee who told him he had received a message from Mr. ■ Walsh in Wellington. Mr. Walsn 'had told the manager that if Mr Goldberg was in the hotel to get him out immediately' or complications [would occur. , Mr. Goldberg pointed out that that [could not be done but again to save (the manager embarrassment he [moved to Warner’s Hotel. I “I don’t know if they are going to carry this thing through to Dunledin," he said. "1 doubt very mucn if the Ministers of the Crown approve of it. Even if I had made the statements they accuse me of I have the right to make them, but the statements attributed to me are ridiculous. Mr. Savage agreed that I was entitled to express my opinion. He definitely' agreed that it could not be tolerated. 1 certainly did a fair amount of work for the National Party under th? direction of its leaders and executive and criticised Labour. It is definitely interference with individual liberty. It is a flagrant boycott undertaking. It presumes to show the power of some men. I admit they have the power but they should not use it on individuals who bring money into the country' and spend it.”

THE LEGAL POSITION MR. SAVAGE INQUIRING | r.r Press Association.! WELLINGTON, Feb. 15. ‘I am endeavouring to' ascertain the legal position," said Hon. M. .1. Savage, when attention was called this evening to the statement by Mr. Goldberg that hi' had consulted Mr. Savage concerning the reason for the developments at certain hotels where he had obtained accommodation. "Mr. Goldberg came to see me the other day,” said JMr. Savage, "and I told him I did not know the legal position, but that I would find out. I am taking steps to ascertain it now. Mr. Goldberg also told me he did not want any publicity given the matter,

but the Press Association message ot three-quarters of a column from Christchurch he has in to-night s paper certainly looks to me a little bit. like publicity. Mr. Goldberg has got more publicity than the Ministers of the Crown for important statements.” UNION SECRETARY’S COMMENT [ Per Press Association.l WELLINGTON, Feb. 15. “I have no knowledge whatever of any threat to boycott any of our wellrun hotels in New Zealand,” said Mr. Walsh, secretary of the Seamen's Union, when the report of Mr. Goldberg's experience was referred to him.