INVITATION TO VISIT CHINA

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27603, 9 March 1955, Page 14

INVITATION TO VISIT CHINA

ACCEPTANCE BY N.Z. RAILWAYMEN

MR WALSH REPLIES TO MR MAIN (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, MarcllT “I note with grave concern the statement of Mr J. R. Main, president of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, that he was unable to agree that ‘because the executive of the Federation of Labour declared war on any organisation not affiliated to it, all affiliations must slavishly follow suit,’” said Mr F. P. Walsh, president of the federation, tonight. “The decision to disaffiliate from the Communist-controlled World Federation of Trade Unions and not to associate with any of its appendages was made by the conference of the New Zealand Federation of Labour on May 17, 1949,” he added. “This decision was made by the conference, not the Executive. It was made on the recommendation of the policy committee, of which Mr J. A. Barton, then president of the A.S.R.S., was a member, and he was in full agreement with the recommendation. Mr Earton had the full support of his union in dissociating himself from a Communist-coo-rtrolled organisation. “I must point out that the Federation of Labour’s attitude is not just s question of my personal disapproval as Mr Main says. As a matter of fact, I was absent from the executive meeting that made the decision. So, incidentally, was Mr Johansen, the gentril secretary of the A.S.R.S. However, I fully agree with the decision, which is in conformity with the 1949 conference decision of the Federation d Labour, not to associate in any/wiy with the W.F.T.U. appendages, such al the Chinese Federation of Trtdl Unions.”

Mr Walsh challenged Mr Maia | take a vote of his 15,000 member! • the question.