DUES WITH A SONG
The 50 Fijians grubbing nassella tussock at Cheviot sang for the two union officials who collected £5O in dues from them this week. The officials were also sung “Isalei," the Fiian farewell song as they were about to leave. The secretary of the Can-
terbury-Otago-Southland General Labourers’ Union (Mr L. B. Swan) said that it was the happiest extraction of union dues he had seen in his life. He was accompanied by the union organiser (Mr J Ramsden).
“The Fijians brought their union dues from Fiji in travellers’ cheques, ready to pay,” he said. “These boys are really union-minded.” The secretary of the Fiji Government Workers’ Union (Mr J. Kalailakeba) told Mr Swan that he had personally written to the president of the New Zealand Federation of Labour (Mr T. E. Skinner) and its secretary (Mr K. Baxter) asking them if his union could be affiliated with the F.O.L. He was told this was not possible because Fiji was not part of New Zealand. Mr Kalailakeba accompanied 50 Fijian workers to North Canterbury, where they will spend the next three months cutting nassella for the North Canterbury Nassella Tussock Board.
If the Fijians work a full six-day week in North Canterbury, they will earn £24 18s 3d a week. They receive free accommodation, lighting, heating and power, but feed themselves.
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Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31107, 9 July 1966, Page 16
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224DUES WITH A SONG Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31107, 9 July 1966, Page 16
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