NO QUORUM.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18372, 4 May 1925, Page 8

NO QUORUM.

—« — _ ALLIANCE OF LABOUR DISCUSSED. P. AND T. MEETING LAPSES. The question of whether, or not tho Post and Telegraph Association should be affiliated with tho Alliance of Labour was discussed at a special general mooting of the North Canterbury section of the Association on Saturday night, the meoting being closed by tho chairman, Mr H. B. Ward, aftev it had been in progress for some considorablo time, owing to the lack of sufficient membors (20) being present to constitute a quorum. In aeordancc with notice given, Mr A. T. Ward moved. "That the executive take steps to rescind the motion relative to the decision to affiliate with the Alliauco of Labour." In doing so, ho said that before affiliation with the Alliance was decided on, Post and Telograph employees got certain consideration and benefits that had since been stopped. He submitted that instead of gaining anything by deciding to affiliate with the Alliance, the members of the Association had, in fact, gone back. At the time the question of affiliation was being discussed, ho had Btatod that no good would come of the action, aiid ho submitted that his words had conio true.

Mr King, in seconding tho motion, I said that when tho motion approving of affiliation was boifcg considered, it was carried mainly because a lot of young boys had voted for it. Mr Wilson reviewed the posjtion that had arisen since tho question of affiliation was first mooted, referring to the circular sent out by the Hon. J. G. Coates, Postmaster-Gouoral, with a view to what the speaker claimed was nothing more or loss than intimidation of the Civil Servants concerned. He Also referred to tho meetings of Chambers of Commerce all over the Dominion supporting the Government in denying the Association the right to affiliate With the Alliance of Labour, and said that one such meeting which was reported as hav-. ing carried a motion unanimously on the lines indicated by him had been attended by "tw.o men and a dog." The newspapers had also told them that they were in error in seeking affiliation, yet when a large meoting of Civil servants was held in the Jcllicoe Hall to consider the matter the principle of affiliation was approved. Mr TUrher said that thero was no chance of any Government in future allowing public servants to join up With an outside labour organisation otriftg to the confidential na-tiire of their work. There was only duo Way-to get their grievances seen to, and that was through members of Parliament. If tho motion was carried, thoro was a chance of getting assistance from tho M.P.'s. He could assure those present that if thoro was a strlkO 'it any time the commercial community would at onco get togethtsr and break it. as tho telegraphs were essential,to them, "A Useless Body." Mr Lartranee said that the Alliance of Labour was a useless body, of no service to Labour and of no ttae to tlig Association. HO kriow that it wOuld not bo ««• acceptable to tho Government If th 6 whole of tho Government services AyOrd placed under the Arbitration Court. He hoped this would never cOmq about, as it would bo of no benefit to tho Asso* elation.

Others present expressed the view that no Government would allow amlhi-; t'ion, one stating that when members r of | the police in Britain stood out for the right to join up with an outside labour organisation they were given a certain time to resume, and those who failed to do so were dismissed, although many had yoars Of superannuation behind thein. When the Labour Government got into .power, efforts w6re made to get these men reinstated, but with no success, because tho action of the police had been tigalhst the law. Other business had been discussed during tho mooting, and prior to this 'Subject being dealt with, Or during the time it was before the meeting, a number of thoso present took their departure. This was noticed by Mr Wilson, who accordingly drew the attention of tho chairman to tho fact that only seventeen wore then t>rdaoht. such a riumprer nOt constituting a quorum. • The chairman said that such was tut* doubtedly the ease, although ther'o was a quorum when the meeting commenced. In the clrenmstarices he had he option but to declare the meeting closed, leaving the matter to be discussed at a later dato.