NEW UNIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 23, 27 January 1923, Page 13

NEW UNIONS.

WATERFRONT MOVEMENT. NO DECISION' YET. No decision has yet been reached in connection with the application for registration of the new waterside workers' union which has been formed in Wellington, the matter having been referred by the Labour Department authorities to the Crown Law Office for advice. ' Section 11 of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act provides that if the Registrar of Industrial L'uions refuses to register a union when an application has been made the applicants have the right of appeal to the Arbitration Court against the Registrar's decision. From a perusal of the Act, however, it seems that no other appeal lies. The wording of Section 11 is as follows: — "In order to prevent the needless multiplication of industrial unions connected with the same industry in the same looality or industrial district, the following special provisions shall apply; (a) the Registrar may refuse an industrial union in any case where he is of opinion that in the same locality or industrial district, and connected with the same industry there exists an industrial union to which the members of such industrial union may conveniently belong; provided that the Registrar shall forthwith notify such registered industrial union that an application of registration has been made, (b) Such industrial union, if dissatisfied with the Registrar's refuse/, may in the prescribed manner appeal therefrom to the Court whereupon the Court, after making full inquiry, shall report to the Registrar whether in its opinion his refusal should be insisted upon or waived, and the Registrar shall be guided accordingly. Provided that it shall lie on the industrial union to eatiefy the Court that, owing to the distance, diversity of interest, or other substantial reason, it will be more convenient for the members to register separately than to join any existing industrial union."