MEETING OF CLERICAL STAFFS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1215, 25 August 1911, Page 9

MEETING OF CLERICAL STAFFS.

"COERCION OF THE WORST POSSIBLE KIND." A largo and representative meetinc of the clerical staUs oi toe wholesale yrocers, wiuo an<l spmt and produce lnerchants ot tnis city Wiis hvut ytsteruav evening in tne Cnaiiiber of Umiincrce Mo can using crowdeu. The cinet oojeot oi tiic gathering was to protest ngaiual inclusion in tne Wellington Amalgamated aocitty ot Juercnanis' -Assistants Irn'on ot rroncers. Mr. U. T. nail (.Levin and 10., Ltd.) was voted to the cnair, Mr. W. H. Warren (JJaigevj- and Co.) being sppointtd secretary.

i'ne chairman Driefly explained the provisions ot existing legislation, showing how clerical assistants could bo included in the demands ot the union, whetiief it was so desired or otherwise, this being m accordance with tne definition as laid down by l.ho Umoi of Workers, read in conjunction with the interpretation clauses of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act; and, fnriher, that the rules of tho Union of Workers distinctly stated that it shaft . consist of persona actually engaged, as 'cage earners (other than driver*), manual or clerical, in tho establishments indicate:! in tho title. Ue also drew the attention of the meeting to tho fact that there was no provision in tho Act to allow such ,-\ body of n,en as had gathered thero that evening to claim tho right of representation and appear boforo the Conciliation Council or Arbitration Court with tho view of being exempted from tho scope of tho union. This in the opinion of the chairman was a serious weakness in tho compilation of the Act, and one that needed amending. Ho could hardly understand an Act that could allow, pay, 15 men to form a union, ami have by law tho power to include 1000 clerks within the union's jurisdiction, and averred that this, instead of being a system of "intimidation," was actually coercion of tho worst possible kind, as !t compelled acquicscenco without representation—a' form of compulsion obnoxious to all concerned. Tho chairman further explnined to the meeting that the union could Kcure an award against firms, although no workers (irnloyed by such firms wero members of the "union. It was proposed by Mr. J. Thompson (Thompson Bros, and Co., Ltd.), and seconded l>y Mr. 11. W. Thompson (Johnston and Co., Ltd.), "That this meeting of the clerical staffs of the Wellington wholesale grocers, wine and spirit merchants, and produce merchants is strongly opposed to tho demands issued by the" Wellington Amalgamated .Society of Merchants' A.v sistanls' Union of Workers, anil resents any attempt to compel us to come under the scope of the union." •

This was carried unanimously. •.Wγ. I'atcrson, inn. (A. S. Patcrson; and Co.), regarded the movement under discussion as "an unwarranted inipertini.'iice and interference with -the existing happy relations between cinpU-vcis. and enipluj'ees"—a sentiment heartily endorsed by all present- ■ ■'■■-■

It was then proposed by Mr. Cameron (\V. M. Bnnnatyne and Co.. Ltd.), swond. by Jlr. M'Caul (lillis mul Uanton): "That this meeting recognise tho present- amicable relations existing between employer and employee in' tli? wholesale grocers, ivine- and spirit merchants, and produce merchants' businesses, and deprecates any attempt that may bo made to upset tho present friendly conditions exisliiij between employer and employee, and, therefore, this meeliiiß is of opinion that every "effort shall be made to prevent any award being" made that would apply to tho clerical sialfs of the above-named merolinnts." This was carried unanimously.

Mr. W. H." Warren (JJalgely and Co., Ltd.) mentioned the fact of tho non-ap-plication of the existing industrial legislation to (he various Government Departments, citing especially that of the Kailways, He also emphasised the "outside" principle, of promotion by merit, Mr. Birch (Lacry and Co.) expressed appreciation of the cordial relations existing between employer and employee, and strongly objected to anything that would in any way tend \o destroy sued cordiality.

Mir. i'ordhani (W. and G. Tunibull and Co.), in support of tho mo: ion, endorsed many of the remarks made by the previous speakers. Messrs. Preston (T. and \V. Young), Hulbert (Murray, Roberts and Co.), Long (Spedding and Ui.j, Nelsoii (Dalgtjt.v sy, and Townsend (Johnston and Co.), also spoke- strongly in favour of tho resolution, which was then put and carried by acclamation.

It was proposed by Mr. Go&ch (T. and W. Young), and seconded by Mr. E. Mason (Levin and Co., Ltd.).: "That to give effect to the resolution passed by this meeting, four delegates be elected to represent us before the Conciliation Council and Arbitration Court for tho purpose of voicing our objection to any award (iffectourselves." "This also was carried unanimously, the delegates appointed being Messrs. Hall (Levin and Co-, Ltd.), Paterson, Jun. (A. S. Paterson and Co.), Fcrdhara (Tumbull and Co.), and Fussell (A. S. Paterson and Co., Ltd.).

The following resolution was proposed by Mr. Nation (Levin's), and seconded by Mr. Fell this meeting pledge itself to use its best endeavours to net candidates for Parliamentary honoirrs to place upon the Statute Book im amendment to tho Conciliation and Arbitration Act giving power to any body of workers' (cilcd under union award) to apply for exemption from such with the right to appear before liho Conciliation Council or Arbitration Court to voice their claim." A further resolution wa.s then proposed by Mr. Preston, and seconded by Mr. Gooch, that arrangements should be made for a deputation to wait upon the city and suburban members of Parliament and the Hon- Minister for Labour, and place b?fjTO them tho views of tho meeting. This was carried unanimously.. • The meeting concluded with a vote of tlianks to the chairman. The wholMsle fancy poods and jeweller! , assistants, to. the number of. 40, met on Wednesday evening, at the Commercial Travellers' Club, and cxpressrd thems-Ivcs very emphatically as being opposed to being forced into tho Merchants' Assistants' Union. The mcetins wns presided over by. Mr. E. Kellow. ,It was decided (o appoint two representatives of the ■ assistants to bring tho views of the meeting against compulsory unionism before the Conciliation Council, and. if necessary, the Arbitration Court. Crane, (Hayman and Co.) and Morrish (J. Myers and Co.) were appointed.