A UNION SECRETARY SPEAKS OUT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2448, 1 July 1922, Page 2

A UNION SECRETARY SPEAKS OUT.

REFLECTION OF SOUTHERN STRIKE. The following letter-, which appeared a few days ago in the Oamaru “Mail,” speaks for itself: — “As a worker may I be allowed to voice my protest against the exploiting of the workers of the Dominion by numbers" of job-conscious and avaricious trades union officials. This Dominion at the present time is overrun by these parasites, who are holding down good positions with munificent salaries. To my idea the work of these consists mainly of sitting in a palatial office, tickling a typewriter, with an occasional jaunt through .New Zealand at the workers’ expense. When a critical time arrives in the industrial movement these men are nowhere to be found, and the poor worker is allowed to ‘stew in his own juice.’ When, oh I, when! will lhe worker see through the duplicity and umvorthiness of these parasitical soapbox orators (or organisers), who are battening and fattening on the <nusclcs of the working man? So long as these so-called officials can lead the workers by the nose, so long will they cling tenaciously to their prospective wellpaid billets. These so-called organising secretaries have bad a good long run, and it is now time that the rank and file has a say in industrial matters which concern ‘ homsolves.

“Take a glimpse into the different Trades Halls in the Dominion, and what do we find? Offices, and still more offices, all containing some well-paid official. Just lliiuit how many thousands of pounds the workers contribute annually !o pay and house these individuals. Wake up, workers, and diynp these industrial parasites, and dump them vigorously. Personally, lam a worker, and will continue to try and assist the working man at ail times, but I do object to being led like a lamb 1o the'slaughter by unintelligent find inefficient Labour-organising officials. Let us workers have a say in playing the game fairly and squarely off our own hat, and let us n it be led by a lot of official nincompoops who liyive nothing to loose and everything to gain. Take, for in-stance,-the present crisis in the freezing industry, and we find that the several highly-paid officials seem to be incapable of handling the situation. Yo gods! Is it strange that the workers are clamouring for a genera!,cleaning up in official circles? ;md, in my opinion, it is not before time. It is certainly now up to the worker to use his own common sense and judgment. —T am, etc., “(Sgd.) J. B. TURNBULL, ••Secretary Pukeuri Freezinz Workers’ Union, Pukeuri.”