CO129-572-6 Hong Kong Seamen's Union- proposed proscription 22-1-1938 - 30-8-1938 — Page 35

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of the meetings that "the provision of war relief is not the real

object of the Union" and a proviso to one of the rules of the Society that "this rule (restricting the length of tenure of office)

shall not apply when there is no further need of war relief".

In view of past experience there can be no doubt

that a "General Labour Union" on the old lines is undesirable.

It is obviously intended for the purpose of putting pressure on

employers or on the Government backed by the threat of a General

Strike.

The other objects the collection of funds for

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war purposes, traitor-hunting, boycott of Japanese goods and ships

and recruitment of soldiers is hardly less objectionable. The

system favoured

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e.g. in the case of the barbers is the increase

of prices for certain services and the payment of a percentage

to the Union. This would be undesirable even if it were certain

that the sum so collected would go to war charities instead of

into the pockets of gangsters, as is far more likely.

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