ELECTION FUND

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 84, 6 October 1938, Page 15

ELECTION FUND

LABOUR RARTY

PAYMENT BY UNIONISTS

(jßy Telegraph—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, October 5. "Ib it correct that employees of the board who are members of the New Zealand Harbour Board Employees' Union have been forced to pay to the union, by way of levy, a contribution for political purposes termed, I believe, an instalment to tbe election fund of the Labour Party?"

This question, asked by Mr. J. K. McAlpine at a meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, provoked keen discussion among members.

The secretary, Mr. C. H. Clibborn, said that when the union was formed a set of rules had to be set up before it was registered. Tlie rules provided that the maximum amount payable by any member to the union was £2 X7s, but, although he was not a member of the union, he did not know of a provision in the rules on the lines indicated by Mr. McAlpine. He understood that when a receipt was given for such contributions it bore something like that phraseology on it. From the nature of the receipt the payment probably did constitute a levy. Mr. McAlpine: Is there any limit to this contribution?

Mr. T. H. McCombs: Do you know if the union is affiliated to the New Zealand Labour Party? Last time I had occasion to inquire it was not. If it is not no contribution is made.

Mr. R. E. Cairns claimed that the levy was entirely voluntary. It could be made compulsory only by resolution of a special meeting called for that purpose.

The chairman, Mr. R. T. McMillan, said he did not know whether the board was within its rights in discussing what the union did or did not do. Personally he thoughi such compulsory levy definitely wrong. The board, however, had no power to make an alteration in the matter, although there was no harm in having it ventilated. Replying to a further statement by Mr. Cairns that the levy was not compulsory, Mr. Clibborn said he understood that some of the members had received circulars demanding payment. Mr. Cairns: That's news to me. If that is so without the authority of a special meeting they cannot force payment.