MEMBERS ONLY

Evening Post, Issue 126, 29 May 1936, Page 11

MEMBERS ONLY

POSITION EXPLAINED

There was apparently a misunderstanding regarding the question of eligibility to attend the meeting of the Clerical Workers' Union last evening. The advertisement calling the meeting clearly stated that it was a. "union meeting." Union meetings, like meetings of any other corporate body, are for genuine members or those who definitely ally themselves with the objects of such body. The advertisement, said officials of the union today, stated that enrolments would be taken one hour prior to the meeting taking place.

There were some who did not desire to associate themselves with the Clerical Workers' Union and who attended with the object of hearing the.matters discussed; these .individuals were not permitted to attend the'meeting. The officials stated today that they regretted that some disappointment had occurred, as it was not their intention to mislead any honestly interested person, and perhaps this misunderstanding had arisen from the fact that the invitations issued, and .the advertisements, had not said "for members only," but the officers of the union had thought that this would be taken for granted. , •',

It was also said that it was ltnown that during the day the organisers of certain other organisations had been busy holding meetings "in various offices with the object of making the holding of the clerical workers' meeting impossible, and to offset this, steps were taken to ensure that only bonafide employees were present to conduct the business of the union. It may have been that in doing so others who were not partisan were excluded, but under the circumstances this could not be avoided.

It was also stated that the Clerical Workers' Union *would be holding a public meeting next week, when all persons interested, whether opposed to genuine unionism or otherwise, could attend and voice their opinions and all questions could be answered,