RECENT POSTAL BALLOT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2415, 8 April 1922, Page 4

RECENT POSTAL BALLOT.

SPLIT IN ASSOCIATION LIKELY

A Dominion reporter was informed on Wednesday that a split in the association is assured. Many of the 1,973 members who voted against, affiliation are not prepared to remain in an organisation that is connected with the Labour extremists, and some of them have already sent in their resignations. A meeting of postal and telegraph officers opposed to affiliation is being arranged, and the outcome is expected to be the formation of a new association. Dunedin, April 6. Dissatisfaction is expressed amongst many local members of the Post and Telegraph Association as the result of the ballot. It is stated that several resignations arc certain. Wanganui, April 0. The president Of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr William Brown, has despatched' the following telegram to the Premier: —“The Wanganui Chamber of Commerce calls upon Cabinet to seriously consider the posilion as the result of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association ballot favouring amalgamation with the Alliance of Labour, and strongly recommends the Government to refuse recognition to such alliance, which would create a serious and anomalous position, both for the Government and the community. Auckland, April 6. The decision of the P. and T. Officers’ Association to affiliate with the Alliance of‘ Labour was the subject of discussion at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon. The following resolution was carried: —“That the Association, or affiliation of any of our public service bodies with sectional organisations such as the Alliance of Labour, would be subversive to Government, and opposed to the public interest; and that the Government be urged to take all possible steps to oppose such an affiliation.” The following amendment was rejected, only the mover and seconder voting for it. “That the Chamber of Commerce Committee take the necessary steps to interview representatives of the P. and T. Department in the Auckland Province and discuss the matter before passing so drastic a resolution as asking the Government to practically dragoon them into reversing the course they have pursued.” The mover of the amendment alone dissented from the resolution. New Plymouth, April (>. A meeting of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce to-dav resolved: “That this Chamber views with grave concern the decision of the Post and Telegraph officials to join rip with the Alliance of Labour, and calls upon the Government to at once refuse recognition of the affiliation. Further, that this chamber is prepared to heartily support the Government in whatever action it thinks necessary to protect the interests of the public in connection with this matter.”

ALLIANCE CONSTITUTION

OWNERSHIP BY WORKERS

The constitution of the New Zealand Alliance of Labour provides for the wage workers of New Zealand being organised on the lines of class and industry, and for the collective ownership of the means of production and distribution, and for the control of all industries' being placed in the hands of the workers in the interests of "the community. The basis of organisation is as follows: —National unions and national federations of unions organised into industrial departments —(a) Transport industrial department; (b) mining industrial department; (c) metal workers’ industrial department; (d) any other industrially organised department. Matters submitted to the alliance, and, upon which action may be taken, shall he those of a national character, or those vitally affecting a principle which (in the opinion of the National Executive of the Department making the request) necessitates combined action. The cooperation of the joint organisation shall not be called upon, or expected, unless and until the matter in dispute has been considered by, and received the endorsement of, the national executive of the organisadion primarily concerned, and each organisation instituting a movement which is likely to involve the other affiliated organisations shall, before any definite steps are taken, submit the whole matter to the joint body foy consideration.

For I he purpose of increasing the efficiency of (he movemenl for combined action, periodical meetings of representatives of organisations shall he held from time to time, when deemed necessary. Simultaneously with these arrangements for united action between the affiliated Departments, every effort, shall he made to create effective control of their respective organisations. Power is given for complete autonomy to he exercised by any of’the affiliated Departments to take action on its own behalf. Joint action can only he taken wlgfn the question at issue has been before the members of the affiliation, and decided upon by such methods as the constitution of.eaeh affiliated Department provides./ A conference shall then he called without delay to'consider, and decide the question of taking action. No obligation shall devolve upon any of the affiliated Departments to take joint action unless and until the foregoing conditions have been complied with.

The alliance shall do all in its power, to secure the organisation of the workers of the Dominion upon the lines of class and industry in

furtherance of its objective, and shall endeavour to in-dilute within the affiliated Departments and between them a universal yearly ticket of admission. The management of the organisation shall be vested in an executive council, which shall consist of representatives of each industrial Department affiliated for the time being, on the basis of one representative for each 3,000 members or part thereof. The constitution provides for periodical meetings of the executive to arrange such work as may be necessary for perfecting the organisation, and to deal with matters submitted for consideration. The executive council, at its annual meeting, shall elect from the representatives of affiliated Departments a president, a vice-president, and a secretary-treasurei 1 . The members of the executive council resident in Wellington shall, subject to the control of the council, act as a management committee. In order to meet necessary expenses, a capitation fee of fid per member per annum shall be paid by each affiliated industrial department.