SUSPENDED OFFICERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 120, 23 May 1941, Page 8

SUSPENDED OFFICERS

CARPENTERS' UNION

! VACANCIES CONTESTED

NONE RE-ELECTED

The three members of the Wellington Carpenters' and Joiners' Union who were removed from office at a special meeting of the union on May 8, for their responsibility for the carrying of an antiwar resolution, sought re-election at a continuation of the meeting in the Trades Hall last night, but each was defeated by a substantial margin. Legal advice had been received that the suspended officers were eligible for re-election.

At the meeting on May 8 the antiwar resolution was rescinded, and those removed from office were the president. Mr. W. A. Jamieson, Mr. L. J. Buxton, and Mr. W. McAra. Fourteen members of the union attended the meeting which passed the anti-war resolution, but only ten voted; and the motion rescinding the resolution was passed by 232 to 96.' The meeting last night had been in progress nearly an hour whc-n a motion admitting the Press was passed, but the mixture of cheers and boos met by two reporters indicated that there had been a division. The meeting was orderly but vociferous at times, the bulk of the interjections being goodhumoured. ** In a ballot for the office of president Mr. J. T. C. Smith beat Mr. Jamieson by 140 votes to 67. NEW PRESIDENT'S APPEAL. Mr. Smith appealed to members to assist him to cary on the business as smoothly as possible. He said that the meeting" on May 8 and the meeting last night had been well attended, but at the last branch meeting there had been an attendance of only 17, which was not very satisfactory out of a membership of 1600. He could not carry on the work alone, and members should help by attending branch meetings, He congratulated those responsible for passing the resolutions condemning the anti-war resolution and dismissing the officers. He had supported the resolution suspending those officers, but a solicitor's opinion had been received that they were eligible for re-election. The fact that Mr. Jamieson had been defeated for the presidency showed that his work had not been satisfactory during his term of office. "Eighteen months ago it was stated to me that they would not be long in office, and that if they were given enough rope they would hang themselves," said Mr. Smith. "They have hanged themselves all right." POLITICAL PROPAGANDA. His resolutions had been more drastic that the ones put forward by Mr. C. Nattrass, continued Mr. Smith, and aimed at'expelling the three officers and debarring them from holding office for life. During his term of office he would have no political propaganda introduced, and he was sure that in that he would receive the support of the union. He had been in the organisation for 44 years, and he had done his duty in supporting the two resolutions. He would be holding office only until September. Mr. L. Simmonds asked the number ,of union carpenters in the branch. The secretary (Mr. J. Moulton) said that last December there were 1442 who were not more than twelve months in arrears. That number was gradually changing because of men being trans-. ferred or going into the Army, and the present membership was 1308. The Wellington district extended from Wellington to as far north as New Plymouth and across to Hawke's Bay. The Wellington City membership wa? 1308. but there were branches in the Hutt Valley, Masterton, Palmerston North, Wanganui, New Plymouth, and Hawke's Bay, with a total membership of roughly 2300. A voice: How many paid members in the 2000? We seem to be spending too fast. The president said the secretary did not know, but he (Mr. Smith) would look into the matter. Mr. D. E. Mackie asked if he could make a personal statement, and mounted the platform to do so. He referred to an article in yesterday's "Evening Post" and said rt affected him very closely and very personally. He began by saying that members were aware that he. "kicked up a little bit of a fuss" at the first meeting. At that moment the scrutineers brought in the result of one of the ballots, and the president told Mr. Mackie that he was too late. RESULT OF BALLOTS. The ballots for the various vacancies created by the suspension of the officers resulted: — One member of executive: Mr. E. Higgins 89, Mr. L. J. Buxton 63, Mr. L. Simmonds 40, Mr. H. Pinfold 14. Three delegate, to the Trades Council* Mr. W. Wood 133. Mr. P. Reid., 117. Mr. T. Fisher 114. Mr. W. McAra 82. Mr. W. A. Jamieson 73, Mr. L. J. Buxton 71, Mr. A. J. Scambury 17. Messrs. Wood. Reidy, and Fisher elected. One delegate to the Building Trades Federation: Mr. T. Fisher 121, Mr. W. McAra 84. One member for the Apprenticeship Committee: Mr. N. Mills 125, Mr. W. McAra 76. One delegate to the committee to defend the 40-hour week: Mr. W. Wood 115. Mr. W. McAra 83. One delegate to the Wellington District Council of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners: Mr J. T, C. Smith 129, Mr. W. A. Jamieson 72.

The voting attendance at the meeting ■was 207.