TRADE UNION AFFILIATION

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26353, 22 February 1951, Page 6

TRADE UNION AFFILIATION

LABOUR FEDERATION MOVE SEQUEL TO JUDGMENT IN . SUPREME COURT (New Zeatana Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 21. The Federation of Labour is taking legal opinion on “ways and means to safeguard the interests of the .trade union movement” in view of the effect of a recent Christchurch Supreme Court decision. The Court granted earlier this month an Injunction against the New Zlealand Freezing Workers’ Association restraining the association from affiliating with the Trude Union Congress. The federation in a circular letter issued to-day said that no affiliated union had sought' an injunction against affiliation with the federation, but that if such steps were taken there was little doubt that the decision would be on all fours with that m the case concerning the Trade Union Congress. The federation said that the Supreme Court decision had divulged little that was not already known to those aware of the history of trade unions in New Zealand. It quoted previous cases and said: In spite of these legal interpretations and decisions, trades and labour councils and a New Zealand Trades and Labour Council Federation functioned from 1890 to 1937, and a New Alliancei of Labour from 1917 to 1935. A New Zealand Federation of Labour existed for a number of years before World War I, and the present sine r i937 n labour has operated "Fortunately for the organised worke« the, ‘Hterpretations and decisions of the Courts of the Dominion did nor deter union officials, delegates and workers struggling and sacrificing to unite to nrotect and advance the welfar? ? f J rade unionists, their wives iS.'* “Trade unionists in many unions in Eurone Britain. North America, and Australia are banded together in national trade union organisations to protect the interests of the workers. Is New Zealand to be the exception 7 ‘Steps have been taken to obtain competent legal opinion on ways and means to safeguard the interests of the trade union movement. Representations are also being made in other

quarters. We have found over a long period of trial and error that such methods usually brine result’ and ';ave the wav open for further negotiations in the future. ’ The federation says that trade unionists will be spurred by the decision into action with vigour to unite all unions in one national trade union organisation.