FEDERATION'S MANIFESTO.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8724, 25 November 1913, Page 5

FEDERATION'S MANIFESTO.

(Received November 25, 9.5 a.m.)

SYDNEY, November 25. Representatives of the newly-formed Australasian Federation of Labour conferred with the transporters' representative in Melbourne last week. This is regarded in union circles as significant. The voting was equal, and it was decided to meet again secretly. The Australian Federation is reticent, but admits that two resolutions were reached which practically backed up the attitude taken at the earlier meeting regarding New Zealand cargo. The Federation has ibsued instruc- j tions. to affiliated unions drawing attention to the fact that unrest "is threatened among railway men, miners, anil waterside workers: "Some of these,"; says the manifesto, "had substantial grievances of their own, and the extension of the New Zealand .trouble 'to Australia greatly increased the difficul-' ties of the officials, and precipitate action might easily initiate a large industrial; conflagration. Consequently, no isolated action must be permitted, and the Federation must be consulted before,, not after, an open rupture is reached. A policy has been tentatively adopted which provides for unity by some 80,000 unionists in addition to our own 50,000. I would suggest, if' a critical situation is reached, that your organisation should keep in close touch ! with me, so that all we do shall, have a common and generally acceptable purpose behind it."