VOLUNTARY WORK ON STREETS

Wanganui Chronicle, 28 October 1948, Page 4

VOLUNTARY WORK ON STREETS

MINISTER HAS NO POWER TO WAIVE AWARDS PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Last Night (PA) —In a written answer tabled i. the House of Representatives toda. to a question asked by Mr. A. S. Sutherland (Opp., Hauraki), the Minister of Labour (Mr. McLagan) said that the compulsory unionism provisions in awards and industrial agreements applied to the employment ol adults in positions or employments subject to those awards or agreements, and the Minister had no power under the legislation to grant any exemptions. The question of whether those provisions applied in any particular case depended on whether the relationship of master and servant existed. Mr. Sutherland had asked the Minister to exempt public-spirited citizens .rom joining unions when serving on working bees to create public amenities and improve waste areas in cities and suburbs.

Mr. Sutherland, discussing Mr McLagan’s answer, said that publicspirited citizens who wished to beautify reserves and parks should be exempted from the provisions of awards, and the law amended, if necessary. It was time a stop was put to everlasting interference by trade union secretaries in such matters.