ARBITRATION COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 12, 15 January 1926, Page 8

ARBITRATION COURT.

WORKERS' REPRESENTATIVE. TRADES HAIL HOSTILITY. A FEDERATION* CIRCULAR. OPPOSED BY UNION OFFICIALS. ("By Telegraph.—Oivn Correspondent.) CIIRISTCHURCII, this day. Union secretaries at the Ciiristchurch Trades Hull were surprised on opening thoir mail this morning to find a circular letter from the Xew Zealand Trades and Labour Councils' Federation, urging all unions to support Mr. A. L. Mouteith for the position of workers' member of the Arbitration Court, and Mr. F. Cornwell for the position of acting workers' member. The circular, which is addressed to '"all unions," is dated to-day, although it was posted from the Trades Hall. It stated that the federation executive is of the opinion that the voice of the workers' representative has not been exercised sufficiently and could have been heard more distinctly when awards and pronouncements were made, and that the unions could not afford to place themselves in the position of recording a vote of confidence in the record of the court during the last three years by again electing the present personnel. It would be certain to be taken as a vote of confidence in the past policy of the majority of the court if the present representatives were re-elected; therefore the executive felt that unions could not afford to vote confidence, in view of the court's past record. The letter is signed on behalf of the by W. Atkinson, president, and P. E. Warner, secretary. In view of the fact that the federation has taken action in the matter without having consulted the trades councils in Auckland, Ciiristchurch or Dunedin, the arrival of the circular this morning caused a good deal of outspoken comment at the Trades Hall. "It can only be characterised as a highhanded and dictatorial action," said Mr. C. Renn, the secretary of a group of unions. "'As a matter of fact," he added, "the circular does not contain one single reason why the unions should throw the sitting men overboard; it is merely dictatorial, without giving reasons for the faith of the signatories in their candidates. The whole thing savours of hole and corner business." Mr. W. J. Green, secretary of the Trades and Labour Council, said that the circular had been issued without the council, which was affiliated to the federation, having been consulted. The council had not considered the matter yet. "I don't think the circular will influence our union in the slightest." said Mr. E. Snow, secretary of the Tramway Employees' Union. He added that if he could judge by the expressions of opinion he'had heard, the union was not likely to do otherwise than support the present representatives on the court. Mr. E. Parlane, secretary of the Canterbury Drivers' Union, said he believed that all the drivers in Xew Zealand would support the present representative, Mr. Hiram Hunter, who had done as good work as any man could do in the position. The opinion that the Alliance of Labour, which has decided to adopt a neutral attitude in connection with the matter, should now decide to support Mr. Hunter, and Mr. Sill, the present member, was expressed by Mr. F. ** C. Ellis, secretary of the New Zealand Freezing Workers' Federation. Mr. Ellis said that 3 years ago tho alliance had supported Messrs. Hunter and Sill, and he saw no reason why they should not support them again. There was no need for a change, Mr. Hunter having done os good work as it was possible for any man to do.