UNION LEVY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 August 1938, Page 7

UNION LEVY

FUNDS FOR LABOUR PARTY

LYTTELTON WATERSIDER’S PROTEST

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHRUCH, August 8.

A levy on members of the Lyttelton branch of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union for funds for a Labour Party newspaper has drawn a public statement from a Christchurch member of the union, Mr John Donnelley, who has resigned after 11 years’ membership. Mr Donnelley, who refused to pay the levy because he considered that it was not constitutionally enforcible, was some weeks ago deprived of his vote in union affairs.

Criticism of a compulsory levy on members of the union for such,a purpose, recently made in the House of Representatives by Mr S. G. Holland, M.P., drew a resolution of protest from the Wellington branch of the union. To this Mr Donnelley has sent a written reply—a copy of which has been given to the “Press” —stating that what Mr Holland said was absolutely true. Mr Donnolley undertakes to give evidence in support of Mr Holland’s statement if the Government is prepared to appoint a magistrate to take evidence. Explaining his attitude today, Mr Donnolley said that the decision to make the levy compulsory had been passed on a vote’ taken by a show of hands and not a secret ballot. That procedure was against the union’s constitution, he said, and his own opinion. In that he had been supported by legal advice. “As soon as the decision to make the levy compulsory so that members who did not pay it were deprived of a vote was announced, I decided to resign,” said Mr Donnolley. His resignation had been made on July 27, but according to the union’s rules, he maintained, he remained a member until October 27 next.

Mr Donnelley’s letter to the secretary of the Wellington union reads as follows: “I have noted with surprise the action reported in the daily Press by your branch of the union in reference to the Lyttelton watersiders’ case, mentioned in the House by Mr S. G. Holland, M.P. Your union says that Mr Holland’s statements are . wrong. Now I, as a member of the branch at Lyttelton, wish to inform you, your members, and the public generally that Mr Holland’s remarks were absolutely true, and if the Government is prepared to appoint a magistrate to take evidence I will undertake to supply the evidence required. Since when has your branch been appointed to deal with the business of ■ the Lyttelton branch? Mr Holland’s statement had to deal with the Lyttelton branch only, and if the Wellington branch does not compel its members to pay. levies against their will to the “Standard” newspaper or the New Zealand Labour Party, or to a “fighting fund” to make new members pay £4 17s before they start work, then I am pleased to learn it.” Mr Donnolley said that his motive in resigning from the union and in making public his protest was to maintain a principle. He did not believe in such compulsory payments and was prepared to fight for that principle.