FEDERATION MANIFESTO.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1899, 6 November 1913, Page 7

FEDERATION MANIFESTO.

OBJECTIONS TO ARBITRATION. A manifesto was isucd yesterday by tho Federation of Labour assuring the people of its earnest desire to bring tho crisis to an end. While admitting that tho stop-work meeting of wutorsiders, which was one of tho contributing causes, was a breach of tho agreement, it "respectfully insists that the vital issue just now is to restore peace and order. This end, adds tho manifesto, the Federation has done all in its powor to secure; and it appeals to those who may incline to the opinion that it should make further concessions to bear in mind that tho delegates have to consider the temper of tho men they represent, as well as tho honour of tho delegates and of tho organisation. After reviewing tho alternative proposals put forward in the negotiations, tho manifesto proceeds as follows: — "The failure of negotiations is duo entirely to the employers insisting on tho workers forming unions under tho Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act,

"Tho Federation submits that this attitude is unreasonable, and impossible of fulfilment.

"'The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act is a permissive statute. In order to come under its provisions workers must form themselves into industrial unions, but neither tho Act itself nor tho principlo of freo institutions requires that tho registration should be anything other than a voluntary act on the part of tho workers. The statute requires (seo Section 5) that a condition precedent- to registration is that a majority of members must pass a resolution in favour of- registration.' Can it bo imagined that a majority of watersiders will, in meeting assembled, vote against their convicttions at tlio bidding of the employers ? Tho Federation can only say that it has no jurisdiction to give an undertaking that a majority of workers in any given industry will pass a resolution in accordance with an agreement arrived at between its delegates and tho employers.To suggest such a position amounts to compelling a majority to vote against their own convictions. Tlio Federation can only repeat that it has no power to do anything of the kind, and that it would be an outrage on tho spirit of free institutions to make the attempt.

"In this connection tho Federation would point out that tho Wellington waterside workers cancelled registration under tho Act on January 30, 1911, on which occasion 1.048 votes were cast in favour of cancellation, and 88 against. Cancellation, like registration, can only b® brought about by tho system of procedure prescribed, by tho statute itself. Tlio policy of tho statute is clearly opposed to compulsory registration, becauso (seo Section 21) tho statute prescribes tho modo by which cancellation is to bo carried out,' and any industrial union cancelling its registration is acting strictly within tho ambit of the statute and its own inherent constitutional rights,- . 1

"Tho. only reason given for tho attitudo. of the employers is that they require some security that tlio conditions prescribed by tho agreement shall be observed. In reply, tlio Federation submits :— ' ... •. •

"First, thnfc the end sought for call be fully secured by the provision of a penalty clause, to which the Federation is willing to agree. "Secondly, tiio Federation would point out that registration under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act offers at least no better security, at any rate when registration is compulsory. In proof of this, it directs puiilio attention m the case of Huntly. Thero an arbitration union was formed by a minority of workers, and, acting on tho counsel of their leral adviser, the men. decided, though reluctantly,, to fall ill with tho now arrangements, and' join the new union. There has been a strong undercurrent of dissatisfaction, but tho workers accepted the situation, although their legal adviser expressed tho opinion that a number of tho .provisions of tho new agreement wore (and are) ultra vires, mid consequently unenforceable. Notwithstanding tho attempt on tho part of tho workers to adapt themselves to a situation which was decidedly distasteful to tho majority of ■ their number, a strike has now been precipitated. Tho Huntly strikers are honestly / of opinion that a number of their representative men have been systematically victimised, and accordingly they havo deliberately decided to incur tho penalties prescribed for striking. Could there be strongercontoiition in -support of tho Federation's contention that registration under tho Arbitration Act can give no security, at least unless ft majority of tho.' workers concerned aro in favour of registration ?

"Tlie Federation lias used its best endeavours to terminate tho dispute, and is still willing that every reasonable safeguard should bo taken against a, recurrence of any breach of agreement. It cannot, however, do tho impossible. It cannot undertake to compel its members to vote against their will in favour of a system which they have deliberately but lawfully east aside, and whilo regretting the continuance Of the existing industrial upheaval, it submits- that it cannot -reasonably be expected to go further towards scouring its termination."