NO SPLIT IN RANKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 71, 25 March 1940, Page 3

NO SPLIT IN RANKS.

FEDERATION OF LABOUR.

CONFERENCE SUGGESTIONS,

(From Our Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, Sunday.

Any suggestion of a split in the ranks of the Federation of Labour, mainly because of widely divergent views on war issues, were dispelled by the delegates' report, and by the unity on industrial questions at the annuarconference. The results of the ballot for office bearers were accepted as an expression of confidence that the officials were giving entire satisfaction in furthering the industrial movement. Some radical alterations in compensation laws will be urged on the Government. The existing law was considered unanimously by the conference to be unsatisfactory, especially the provision of compensation for occupational diseases. The present clauses were held to be too restrictive. Efforts are to be made for the provision of compensation for many strange illnesses or diseases considered to arise out of employment, but not contracted by accident. Legislation introducing a 40-hour week into the Shop and Offices Act is also sought. Strong representations were made by the New Zealand Clerical Workers' Association that the conference should secure recognition of the claims of temporary workers employed in many Government departments. A decision was made that the Clerical Workers' Association should obtain from the Government an agreement covering those workers and bringing their wages and conditions into line with those enjoyed by other Government employees and clerks working for private employers.