Compulsory Union For Volunteer Firemen Opposed

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 18, 29 July 1949, Page 4

Compulsory Union For Volunteer Firemen Opposed

(Special to Beacon) B Wellington, ThursHHHHj A strong protest against clause in the Fire Services Bill empting volunteer firemen joining the firemen’s union they receive more thru £25 in cash in the preceding financial year was voiced by Mr W. Sullivan during the second reading debate in the ■ House of Representatives. “I have in front of me telegrams and letters from the secretaries and chairmen of fire hoards lodging strong opposition to volunteer firemen being compelled to join an industrial union of workers,” said Mr Sullivan. “Eighty per cent of the volunteer firemen voted against compulsory unionism and yet the Government intends to impose that upon ;them.” The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Parry): “I h<ive-already stated that if there is any division of opinion in regard to the interpretation * of the sub-clause we will .tank at it when the Bill is in Mr Sullivan: “I am to hear that. That is what wB We want to see the whole^Bißßßl

volunteer fire brigadesmei^HHHH pletely and absolutely compulsion to become members of/ a union.” ; " Mr Sullivan said that \jvhen the matter was discussed in the House in 1947 the Minister of Finance said it was his view that volunteer firemen should • not be compelled to become unionists if they did not wish to do so. And the Minister of Internal Affairs said that he stood four square against volunteers being compelled to join the union under discussion. He said he would protect the volunteer fireman. Now he ceased to protect them by writing in a clause which would compel them, against their very wishes, to become members of a union. That was not right and it. was not fair. “I know that in my own district they were disturbed that they might be forced to become union members by compulsion,” he said, “but when the undertaking was '■given by, the Ministers were happy. But now we have this disturbing element sown among them once again through the Government writing this clause -into Our volunteer firemen have revered a service' to the country! and are still ' rendering it, and I am, sorry to see any one inside the out of it in any way trying to interfere with their performance of service and with that good citizenship which is the basis of their service.” The Bill was read a second time and referred to the Local Bills Committee which is to Hear evidence on the matter. J