Uproar At Labour Meeting At Dunedin

Chronicle (Levin), 14 June 1949, Page 3

Uproar At Labour Meeting At Dunedin

DUNEDIN, June ,12. Shouted interjeetions, rounds of boo ing, and a prplonged monoiogue « o± "Order, order please," from the chairuian (Mr. W. B. Richards) greeted Mr. K. McL. Baxter and Mr. P. M. Butl.er, Becretary and a member respectively oi tlie national exeeutive of the Federa- ( tion of Labour, when they. tried to address a meeting in Dunedin tonight. They did address the ' meeting. altliough Mr. Butler had to Surtaii his remarks. But the constant barrage of interjection and comment from the fioor prevented logical devrelopment of their argument.

Mr. Butler was twice counted out. _ The meeting was couvened by tlie Federation of Labour as a meeting of "trade unionists and Labour supporters," with the subject for discussion given as ' ' federation policy, disputes, and disrupters. ' ' •Mr. liichards was in the chair when Messrs Baxter and Butler arrivect, and in his capaeity of president of the Otagu Trades Council, was voted to stay there, in spite of opposition from a Bection whieh wanted the cliairman of the Otago Labour Representation Committee (Mr. E. E. Jones) as chairman. "Thug Tactics." "Organised thug tactics," was how Mr. Butler described the conduct of the meeting in a statemcnt at its conclusion. Five minutes after the meeting was expected to open, Mr. Richards told the audience of about 230 that they had reached a tragic stage where * the visitors were not prepared to perform with tlie president of the Otago Trades Council in the chair. Applause brolce out when a motion was submitted that Mr, Richards occupy the chair. Mr. Jones was also nominated, but Mr. Richards was elected by 1S3 votes to 4!). Commenting later on the meeting, Mr. Baxter said that there was strong evidence of unpreeedtnted organisation having taken place to upset the meeting and to prevent Mr. Butler and himself from stating the case for ai\d'explaining the decisions of the annual conference. "This organisation has the fullest support of Communist Party members and their fellow-travellers, possibly in the interests of their ,'candidates for the fortlicoming party election, " Mr. Baxter stated. "It is regrettable that a past vice-president of the Federation of Labour in the person of Mr, W, B. Richards should have associated himself with such elements and taken control of the meeting, though ostensibly endorsed in that position by the apparent majority of the audience." Half Did Not Vote. "It was significant that about half of the audience did not vote on the position of chairman. It was also apparent that while in control of the meeting Mr. Richards did nothing to prevent incessant interjeetions. "It was obvious that a misleading rumour had circulated prior to the meeting that Mr. Butlfer and I were concerned with Tramways Union aifairs. This was contrary to fact. It was also signiiicant that prior to leaving Wellington I received a letter from a lawyer acting for the tramwaymen suggesting that I cancel the meeting. That lawyef was present at the meeting. "The tactics adopted at this meeting should be q.n objeet lesson to the worlcers of Dunedin, that the promoters of this disruption were not interested in the welfare of the people, politically oi industrially, " Mr. Baxter concluded.