FEDERATION OF LABOUR CONGRESS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15016, 10 July 1914, Page 9

FEDERATION OF LABOUR CONGRESS.

YESTERDAY'S, PROCEEDINGS. (PIIISS ASSCTIATTOK TKCEGBAM.) WELLINGTON. July 9. Tho Federation of Labour Congress this morning adopted the preamble of the recently-formed Australian Federation of Labour. A motion that tho New Zealand Federation's title of tho United Federation of Labour should stand was {subsequently carried oh tho voices. f Tho following "is tho official report of the proceedings: — The debate upon the proposed Constitution was resumed after the luncheon adjournment. At tho conclusion of the deliberations the following clause was referred back to tho committee for re-drafting: — "District councils may be established wherever three or four unions are desirous of affiliating with the organisation, provided that in the industrial centres of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin there ehali only bo one district council." The following clauses wero adopted:— 11) In isolated districts or wherever district councils aro not practicable, any union may affiliate, direct with the national executive or the nearest district council. (2) Tbe executive, which shall consist of a president, vice-president, and secretary-treasuior, together with aa executive of nine members, shall be the govorning authority on all matters involving the national body. The members of the executive, exclusive of the officers, shall bo elected by the members of the affiliated bodies within each of the following districts: —Auckland (ono member), Poverty Bay and Hawke's Bay (one member), Nelson, and Marlborough (one member), Buiier and Grey (one member), Canterbury (one member), Otago (one member), Southland (one member). (3) The national officers shall be elected by plebiscite of the whola membership of the United Federation of Labour by a preferential system of voting. (4) District councils aball consist of delegates, from trade or indnstriaJ unions, and shall as fax as practicable bo organised and governed on the lines of industrial unions. ' (5) District councils shall have inll power to deal with. all matters coming within the province # covered by their affiliated unions provided that all matters likely to involve tho national body shall be submitted to the central executive for approval. .They shall have power to appoint any organisers

deemed to be necessary at whatever salaries they may think fit. ■';..-■' <6) Representation of unions npon district councils shall be determined by the council itself. . ',-,',.. Tho powers of bodies affiliated to district councils were under discnaaioo when tho Conference-rose at 5 p.m*