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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 7, No. 3. May 3, 1944

Editorial — The Trade Union Situation

Editorial

The Trade Union Situation

As might be expected, we have had further correspondence concerning an article in our first issue entitled "Students and Trade Unions." Mr. Stone's letter is self-explanatory.

Our immediate action was to pay a visit to Mr. Thompson, with a request for his views and comments, if any, upon the letter. He clarified several points and gave reasons for enforcing full payment of union fees by students, as by other casual workers.

"Freezing chamber and slaughterhouse work is largely seasonal," said Mr. Thompson. "The rush periods, with a large number of men employed, are relatively short. The union card cannot be considered as a yearly, but as a seasonal ticket. Many employees worked only a slightly longer term than the students and a concession to the latter would penalise most other hands."

Mr. Thompson's second point brought attention to the low charge made by the union. Twenty shillings is perhaps the lowest union fee in New Zealand. Capitation fees paid to the Federation of Labour came from this, and yet the decision by a recent conference of delegates to allow an increased fee was rejected by the secretary as unnecessary.

Perhaps if these two points had been made clear in the original article Mr. Stone would have been less irate.

We also approached Mr. J. B. C. Taylor, President of N.Z.U.S.A., on the matter. "We've beaten you to it," he said. "Arrangements are already under way to approach the Federation. We shall recommend fortnightly or monthly tickets, except perhaps in seasonal work, and should be able to give you definite results in the not-too- distant future."

We sincerely hope that Mr. Taylor is not over-optimistic. The system of short period payments is the only solution to an amazing anomaly. With this anomaly should disappear any student resentment to union membership.