“UNION DESPOTISM AND TYRANNY.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4534, 22 November 1930, Page 1

“UNION DESPOTISM AND TYRANNY.”

(•Concluded from page 3). went back and accepted 13/0 a day leaving Foxton to paddle its

own canoe. STAMPEDING THE WORKERS. Mjr. Robinson had accused the speaker of endeavouring to stampede the 11 ax workers into a disordered rabble, but he did not know of a more disorganised rabble durng the past few years than the Union. Apparently the Union was a one man union and the dictatorship of the proletariat was in evidence. lie had never seen anything which more

OUTDID MUSSOLINI (hat in the Union. Tt would be interesting to know how many Shanion members were financial. Tne speaker had endeavoured to obtain a copy of the rules of the Union but as yet had been unsuccessful despite the fact that the law says they can be procured. The men could demand a special general meeting to discuss the position without -going to the exe- < utive. The Union in the past had sent money to Australia and assisted in other strikes in this cornu try yet when the .men of its own Union were out of work no one penny piece had been passed out. The millers were agreeable to meet (he men but they would not agree to go cap in hand to any dictator. The hemp industry was the only one operating under an award tinier the same conditions, and when the men had to remain idle for the want of'exercise of a little common sense it did not say much for them. He considered polities entered into the hold up and said the Hon. Acting P|rime Minister had said that no man should have to work for less than 14/- a day hut he didn’t tell the men how they were going to live if the mills shut down. His statement was merely a sop to the workers of this country the United , Party was trying to sit on the back of the Labour 'vote at next election. They were all puppets in the great political game. VICTIMISATION. There was a feair amongst a certain number of men that if they expressed their views on the present:- situation and the mills reopened and they were imlinancinl with the Union they would be putout of a’.job but he assured those men that the law protected them from victimisation and instanced a case concerning a local mill employee last year. Air. Robinson stated that the sulrplns funds of tlic Union had been used up chasing un'finaiicial 1 members, —not attending conferences to which he was not invited. He would not retract his statement that a mill had been offered to Mr. Robinson but unfortunately the miller who made the offer was now rio more. It was the truth, however. All'. Robinson had made certain remarks about some of the leading citizens of the town but those gentlemen were more esteemed for 1 heir treatment of their fellow men than the secretary -of the Plax- . workers’ Union. ACCEPT CHARITABLE AID. In 1928 Mil'. Robinson advised the men to accept charity when a deadlock had been reached rather Ilian give, away to accepting a lower wage. Certainly manly advice. When a man would say that to men in unfortunate positions he was not worthy of a place in any community.

MISTRUST AINID ANTAGONIST!

Tlu* pvesunt position lie considered liiid been brought about by (lie laekadasical methods of the Union. Instead of Mr. Robinson putting bis energies into writing to the newspapers it would have been better if he had used that energy in trying to co-operate between the men and millers. There was a spirit of mistrust and antagonism

about and through that there was so much hardship in the town.

Mr. Robinson had east a reflection on the chairman of the Palmerston North Hospital Board concerning his action with regard lo relief in Foxton, but there was not one case of distress that Mr. liornblow had turned down. The Charitable Aid rate was going up all the time and innocent individuals would have to pay for it. The borough rates were the same and it was all due to the present position.

'COLLKQIING SUBSCRIPTIONS. If the mills started again tomorrow though, said Mr. Martin, a certain individual would be waiting with hand outstretched next pay

day for subscriptions. Under the Act a place should be provided for the collection of these subscriptions and no man could be compelled to pay his contribution in the street-. He should take his pay home and if there was anything left when he had settled up everything he. could give a contribution to the secretary if he liked.

UNION MEETINGS. Union meetings should be held at least once a month locally and the men should attend t-liose meetings and demand that the rules he distributed to each and every member so tliat they would know where they .stood, and they should also demand that meetings be held regularly. Anything that- was important should be settled by a full meeting of the Union not by the Executive. One member of the Executive was present that night who had carried out work for goods which made him liable under the Truck Act. WAGES MUST COME DOWN. Mr. Martin pointed -out that in the North there was no Union and the millers and men met and decided to work for reduced wages. Those men were working when all the local men were unemployed because they agreed to take 13/- a day. Wages had to come down right throughout the country and it. was no good one industry trying to prop up another. Mr. Martin gave instances of the sub-division and conversion of Max swamps to farms tlnxt was going on and asked if that continued whore the- men would find employment in the future. If anything was to be done to save the industry it would have to he done quickly. TRIBUTE TO BUSINESS PEOPLE. The speaker paid a tribute to the local business people who had helped the -men along to the best of their ability. Vet the men had been told to boycott the local business people because they came to a decision to sell only for cash. UN EAIPLOYMEN T BOARD.

The speaker briefly touched on the Unemployment Board and said the industry could not expect any help from it as it was a ‘"packed” board. He made reference to a certain letter of defamatory character which had been sent to the

llaxwoiikeii's from Palmerston N. and warned the bearer of the letter to return it to the sender to save further trouble. iWith further 'references to the alleged mismanagement of the Union the speaker resumed his seat amidst

applause. Tiie chairman in calling for any questions made brief reference to Air. Martin’s remarks concerning

liaritable aid and paid a tribute

to the work of the local Salvation Army in this connection which was received with applause. He said that us chairman of the Palmerston North Hospital and Charitable Aid Board be bad not refused assistance to any deserv-

ing case in E'oxton nor would he

do so (applause). Touching on the Max. trouble lie co;usidere<l every man was entitled to it fair proportion uL' what lie earned and said that the millers were only too willing to meet the men. They did not want to take them down. Hu hoped that something could be done to break down the feeling of antagonism which appeared to exist between the millers and men. They were entitled to .1.4/- a. day as a living wage, but if the cost of production would not warrant the payment of that amount they would have to accept what the mil-

lers could give or go on relief work.

Air. F. Shaw said that Air. Alai

tin had made personal reference to him. He had been the member of executive who had accepted goods in lieu of wages. He had -half an n-i e of ground and no potatoes or

manure for it. He approached a eei tain resident who agreed to allow him to procure potatoes at 15/- a hag and manure at 8/(1 a load ;by working- for it and this he did and he did not see any crime in it. He obtained a sack of potatoes or two loads of manure a day. This was made .known to Mr. Martin before the meeting by the speaker’s son. Personally he had not wanted to say anything at the

meeting. Mr. Robinson and Mr. Martin could light their own battles. flVljr. Martin had told the speaker’s son that he- had been trying to get the meu uot to go back to work for 10/- a day whereas he had uever offered that advice. Mr. Martin: You are prepared to break any award other than the Plaxmilling Award. —I have brokeu no award. Mr. Martin: Had you met with mi accident while working for the local resident on your terms you would not have received one penny compensation.—That’s my business.

Mr. Martin: Well you are a leading light on the executive. That will do. me.

No furtlier questions being put ibc chairman called for a vote of thanks which was moved by Messrs T. Carter and >F, Robinson and carried by acclamation and a similar compliment to the chairman concluded the meeting.