FEDERATION OF LABOUR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 127, 21 February 1908, Page 5

FEDERATION OF LABOUR.

:?■, - THE PROPOSAL DISCUSSED. (BY IELEGRArn— SI'ECIAI/ CORRESPONDENT.) Christcliurch, February 20. Mr.; James Thorn, president of the Canterbury .Trades' and Labour Council,, has been talking,to a "Press" reporter about the proposed federation ?f labour unions, in ■'favour of.. wjiich ' the Wellington Trades Council 'moved at. tho, last Easter conference. < Mr. Thorn ' pointed out that at present there'aro seven or eight trades and labou; councils in the Dominion, each being ar ■isolated unit.' "When 1 any industrial mattei conies "before: tho ; officials in' each centro utter different views. For instance, the'president of a northern council approved of-the Hon.. J. A. Millar's Bill to amend the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, whilst his council disapproved of it, and the ■president of a southern council disapproved of the .Bill, and ho was supported by his. 'council in his action. ;•, ■ "This sort of thing," said Mr. Thorn, " makes outsiders ask, What do these fellows want? The principal idea of the federation is to,!secure uniformity in the expression of what wo'desiro." He added that as soon as any important matter affecting labour came up it would be submitted by tho federal executive to the different unions for tho expression of their opinions, and as soon as ■ these, 'wero received tho executive would crystallise them into one which would represent the" views of the \majority. Another reason for the movement was that at .present'an attempt was, he understood, being made to amalgamate' the Farmers' Union with thoEmployers' Federation. "I! tho employers intend having a mighty combination," continued Mr. Thorn, "it is time that tho workers, instead nf fighting as so .many solitary units, should fight as one gigantic body. At present the executive of tho. Trades Councils' Conference is situated in different cities, whilst the Employers' Federation l:-as a committee sitting on the doorstep of Parliament looking after its interests. ■ I thihk the general opinion among tho unions is in favour of amalgamation, though there may be objection taken to some of,the clauses. I hive received a resolution passed'by the Wellington. Trades Council to the effect that the different councils should send no legislative remits to the next Trades and Labour Conference, but, providing that tho'unions are agreeable, that the Conference bo asked to spend its time discussing the best means of securing an effectivo federation."