PREFERENCE TO UNIONISTS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14463, 30 November 1914, Page 8

PREFERENCE TO UNIONISTS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—-Mr Hogan is opposed to preference to Unionists, which is rather strange coming from a, man who believes that Unionism is a good thing for the workers also an ex-secretary of a Union. Is It not-a fact that he belongs to a bedy that is a closer corporation than any Union in this country, for I don’t know of any Union that debars a man joining it if he is unable to pay the fee? Also, the Arbitration Court makes provision for any worker who is unable, to earn the minimum rate of wages, on, application to the Union or the Inspector of Awards. Now, Sir, I would like to quote one of the acknowledged Australian authorities on arbitration matters, Mr Justice Higgins. Speaking on the builders’ labourers’ dispute, he spoke as follows on preference: “The truth is, preference is sought for Unionists in order to prevent preference to non-Union-ists, or anti-Unionists, i.e., to prevent the gradual bleeding of Unionism by the feeding of non-Unionism. It is a weapon of defence, and it is indeed trying for men who pay full dues to a legitimate Union to woik side by side with men who do not, with men who look to their own personal interests only, seeking to curry favour with the employers, getting the benefit of any general rise in wages or hettermcn of conditions which is required, without their aid, and in the teeth of opposition, and we say, also, that it is fair and reasonable where any worker obtains the benefits procured by the Union that they should also be compelled to share its burden.”—l am, etc., * A. J. GONCHIE.