SHOP ASSISTANTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 November 1939, Page 6

SHOP ASSISTANTS

MEETING IN PALMERSTON NORTH DOMINATION BY WELLINGTON RESENTED. PROTEST AGAINST IMPORT RESTRICTIONS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) PALMERSTON N.. This Day. A decision to set up a Palmerston North shop assistants disputes committee. empowered to negotiate a satisfactory settlement, was made at a meeting of a hundred assistants held to take steps following on the action of the Wellington executive in disbanding the Palmerston North branch and summarily dismissing its secretary, after a request had been made by the branch for a reduction in subscriptions. Serious friction had arisen with the Wellington executive, which was alleged to have adopted grotesque measures. The meeting considered that Palmerston North’s 500 assistants should have a voice in the unions’ affairs and expressed resentment at the attempted domination by a team of trades union secretaries. Statements were made that 2,000 assistants in Palmerston North, Wanganui and Hawke’s Bay would be organised in protest, suggestions being made that they could i run their own affairs, but did not want to wreck the union. Members were advised meanwhile to pay' no further dues and not to recognise lhe new local secretary' appointed by’ the Wellington executive. Subsequently the shop assistants passed a resolution on similar lines to those passed at Hamilton and Invercargill protesting against the import re. striations which were jeopardising! their employment.