OBJECTIONABLE CLAUSE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 10, 9 December 1926, Page 7

OBJECTIONABLE CLAUSE.

PREFERENCE TO UNIONISTS. ABOLITION SOUGHT. [Special to “Standard.”] FEILDING, Dec. 9. Farmers and local bodies are evidently rapidly arriving at the unanimous decision that the time has arrived when the Government should bo urged to abolish the preference to unionists clause. At yesterday’s meeting of the Oroua County Council comment upon the question was made by the chairman (Cr Campbell) who stated that the recent hold-up in the freezing industry had convinced him of the urgent need for the abolition of this clause being brought before the Government. It was involving a hardship upon the farming community and the position under unionism meant that a good man could not obtain employment if a union man, no matter how bad a worker lie might be, was available. In their own sphere of activities in the council, the chairman continued, it was daily brought under their notice how unnecessary preference to unionists was, for there was no friction between the men and their employers and relations were always in harmony. Cr McElroy also considered that the abolition of the clause was a step • in the right direction and he agreed with the chairman that a good man was at a disadvantage under unionism. The preference to unionists clause was only in favour of the agitator and rendered no service to the country. Cr Greenhow remarked Ihat the Arbitration Act as it stood was detrimental to the interests of the country, for many men had conscientious scruples that prevented them from joining a union and for this reason good men were lost to trades. Cr McDonald said that a more glaring instance of the unfair working of the clause than that afforded by the recent strike could not be imagined. The striking element were in the minority but under union principles they had the greater say and prevented willing men from going to work. Other members of the council spoke upon the subject in a similar manner andi finally, the chairman moved and Cr McElroy seconded, the following resolution, which was carried unanimously: “That this meeting of the. Oroua County Council, as representative of the producers’ interests in the country, takes strong exception to the action of the Government in not abolishing the preference to unionists clause which is detrimental to the best interests of the country, and. that this resolution be forwarded to the Government and to the members of Parliament for the districts.”