SPLIT IN UNION MOVEMENT

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26121, 25 May 1950, Page 4

SPLIT IN UNION MOVEMENT

MINERS ON WEST COAST FIVE UNIONS TO JOIN CONGRESS From Our Own Reporter GREYMOUTH. May 24. The Wallsend and Dobson miners’ unions have decided to withdraw from the Federation of Labour and affiliate with the Trade Union Congress. The decision of the Dobsun union was made this afternoon after miners had been addressed by Mr T. Hill, secretary of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union, and Mr K. McL. Baxter, secretary of the federation of Labour. It is understood that the decision was made by an overwhelming majority of the 150 members. Yesterday Mr Hill addressed 170 miners at Wallsend for 75 minutes. The decision to affiliate with the Trade Union Congress was made after this address by a large majority. The Federation of Labour will now not be given the opportunity of outlining its position to the Wallsend union. The secretary of the union (Mr R. Ross) said the federation had been advised of the meeting and that the union had deferred a decision on the issue for two weeks to allow' both sides to be heard. The tw'o weeks exoired yesterday. The secretary of the Federation of Labour (Mr Baxter) arrived at Greymouth late yesterday afternoon. He said to-day that it had been impossible for him to arrive in time to attend the meeting. He received a radio message while he was travelling by ship from Wellington to Nelson yesterday. That was the only advice he had received that lhe meeting w'as to be held at 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon and not in the evening. Both Messrs Hill and Baxter will also address a meeting at Runanga to-morrow. Mr F. Crook, secretary of the United Mine Workers of New’ Zealand, is accompanying Mr Baxter on his visit to Greymouth. The president (Mr A. Prenderville) arrived from Wellington to-day. Last week the Denniston Miners’ Union voted unanimously against affiliation with the Trade Union Congress. The Ngakawau. Millerton and Charming Creek miners’ unions have decided to affiliate with the Trade Union Congress.