FEDERATED SEAMENS' UNION.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15774, 15 December 1916, Page 9

FEDERATED SEAMENS' UNION.

FRICTION BETWEEN TWO

BRANCHES

POSSIBILITY OF AUCKLAND'S

WITHDRAWAL.

( TREsS ASSOCIATION TELKGRAII.)

AUCKLAND, December 14

A difference of opinion has arisen between the Auckland Seamen's Union and the executive of tho Wellington branch o! the Federated Seamen's Tnion. The matter at issue is tho secretaryship and assistant secretaiyshio ol the local branch, for which offices Messrs ICneen and Anderson respectively 'have been nominated. The executive of tho Wellington branch, which controls the Federation when the representative executive council is out of wssion, claims the 'right of exercise of its proxy power, and has vetoed the nominations, on the ground that, owing to ill-health, lvneen is unable to carry out the duties of secretary, and that no assistant secretary would be needed if the secretary was capable of performing the duties of the office. The Wellington executive has " therefore called for fresh nominations

The Auckland Union repudiates the veto as being unconstitutional, and has issued a circular Stating that the criticism from Wellington is presumptuous and impertinent. It pays a high tribute to Mr Kneen's services, and says it is not the first time that scurrilous attacks on other __ union officials hare emanated from "Wellington, It refuses to be dictated to.

In view of the present deadlock and the recent friction regarding finances, there is a possibility of the Auckland branch withdrawing from the Federation. ■