Magnificent response
to special appeal - Murray Horton CAFCA doesn’t make a habit of sending out begging letters, things have to be fairly dire for that to happen. Rest assured that things did become sufficiently dire with the CAFCA/ABC Organiser Account (the account, independent of both CAFCA and the Anti-Bases Campaign, which provides my income) for the two groups to take the unique decision to make a direct mail appeal to the members of both, for donations and new pledgers to the account. Things were so dire that the account had fallen to half the amount that we had previously agreed would trigger urgent action. Usually the Organiser Account is completely self-financing, but this time CAFCA and ABC paid all the costs. I’m delighted to report that your response has been magnificent. More than $10,000 was received in donations and, in the case of one supportive organisation, another $1,000 has been promised for later in the year. New pledgers to the account number well into double figures and some established pledgers have increased the amount they pay. All I can say is that I am humbled by your outpouring of generosity and repeat that it is a remarkable achievement that donations and pledgers have kept the Organiser Account going since 1991. April 1st marked a milestone in my career as the CAFCA/ABC Organiser. From that date the minimum wage went up to $9 per hour gross, which means that I am now getting paid the same rate as I was when made redundant as a Railways labourer back in 1991. At that time, I said that I would take on the Organiser job if I got the same pay. It’s only taken 13 years but all good things come to those who wait. And by the way, there was no connection between the Organiser Account Special Appeal and the increase in the minimum wage. The timing was purely coincidental. In fact, I had especially rung the Department of Labour and been told that it had not been notified of any increase in the minimum wage. Usually the Government announces any increase in the previous year. This one was done at very short notice and has been ascribed by the experts to Labour’s panicking because of its falling behind National in the polls and belatedly remembering "hang on, we are called the Labour Party, we’d better do something to ensure that workers will still vote for us". I’m afraid that’s a lost cause in my case, Helen, but thanks for the pay rise anyway. Non-Members:
Foreign Control Watchdog, P O Box 2258,
Christchurch, New Zealand/Aotearoa. August 2003.
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