Dangers Of Free Unionism

Chronicle (Levin), 2 December 1949, Page 6

Dangers Of Free Unionism

Press AssociationJ

; * , - ' (Per

; - WELLINGTON, Ded. 1. The results of last night's polls left Trade j chiefs breathless today. The 'bniy pel-sbns shiilin'g round the htpldpg- wero tliose trade union>-^e£cier& whp have Communist affiliations. . Theiif smiles were" due to their belief that the cards had fallen into their 6SO ' \"t' ffhi| yiew was endorsed by oue of 'the 'dlclest secretaries in the ■'hall," a man of moderafe views who said that he was very Worried ; abuht the future of New Zealand indfistrially, not because Mr. Hoiland would beeome Prime Minister but because of tlie possible results of the abolition of compiilsory unionism. He professed to see in the National Party's 6ppo- * sition to compulsory unionism, the gravest danger to the future .industrial peace of the eountry and . to the ultimate fate of the Dominion. It meant, he said, that thed5ommunists.wb.uld .be granted a free pass to the control of the unionism .Qf.the eountry. As he ' s'aw. it, ;the 'abolition of Compulsory unionism meant the death of th'e " blue uibbom".unions such as the Clerks' ?hnd Shop Assistants? Unions and so on, That would leave.in the field only those uniyns which would be described as "fighting" unions which he nominated as the Seamens'. Union, Miners' Union and . Transport Union. " Wipe out the blue ribbon unions," he said, "and what have you left? About three strong organisations leaving the rest. to fall into the hands of ' the Com. munists. At the reeent conferenee

of the Federation of Labour we have had a hard enough fight to bash the Communists. If we lose the support of the blue ribboil boys we've had it. Without voting ;,&trength we can't lick the Oo'mdnunists. That's the position as I see it. If compulsory unionism stays put, we've got a chanee of beating the Reds. If it goes there'll be no holding them-"