Would Give Wives The Right To Vote On Proposals To Strike

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 September 1947, Page 5

Would Give Wives The Right To Vote On Proposals To Strike

<P.A.) Parliament Bldgs., Sept. 3. Speaking in the House of Representatives tonight in the debate on the Bill to amend the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, which is designed to take a ballot of an industrial union before a strike is called, or a ballot of an employers’ association before a lock-out Is authorised, the Minister of Works (Mr. Semple) said that he, personally, would go further than the Bill and give the wives of workers the right to vote on whether their bread-line should be broken by strikes. Mr. W. S. Goosman (Opp., Pl- - Is the Minister going to move that as an amendment Mr. Semple said that wives and mothers suffered most front strikes, and they had as much right to determine whether a strike should be held as had a handful of demagogues. Mr. F. W. Doidge <Opp.. Tauranga): Wouldn't It be a simple matter for Communists to hold office in unions? Mr. Semple said such a course had not been considered. If the Bill were passed the rank and file could be trusted to do the Job. He did not believe in using the lash of persecution. . > Mr. Semple said the Bill was introduced to take powers out of the hands of wreckers and put It in the hands of the rank and file so that they, and not gangsters, would be masters of the situation.