Successor To Mr Walsh

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30191, 24 July 1963, Page 14

Successor To Mr Walsh

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON. July 23. A special meeting of the national council of the Federation of Labour will be held next month to elect a successor to Mr F. P. Walsh as president of the federation. The position became vacant on the death of Mr Walsh last May, only two weeks after be had been re-elected The national executive of the FO L decided at a meeting today that it would call for nominations immediately and hold an election at a special meetina.of the council. Mr T. E. Skinner, the vicepresident and acting president, said tonight he would

be a candidate for the position

He said the executive would also call for nominations tor vice-president. This position would became vacant if Mr Skinner were elected president The executive, said Mr Skinner, considered that because submissions to the Dairy Price Commission had been completed and all outstanding matters dealt with the time was opportune to fill the vacancy. Nominations would be called from affiliated trades councils, all of whom have representatives on the national council.

Mr Skinner said the special

meeting would also hear a report from him on the affairs of the F.O.L and matters . dealt with since the death of Mr Walsh. Union officials said Mr Skinner seemed certain to succeed Mr Walsh and they believed the position of vicepresident would probably go either to Mr F. L Fenton, president of the New Zealand Workers’ Unicm, or Mr J. E Napier, secretary of the North Island Waterside Workers’ Association. Both Messrs Fenton and Napier are members of the national executive and if either is elected a vacancy will be created on the executive.