LIVELY DISCUSSION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 8, 9 July 1909, Page 3

LIVELY DISCUSSION.

UNIONS AND TRADES COUNCILS. [BY TELEGRAPH — SPECIAL TO THE POST.] CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. At a meeting of the Coachworkers' Union to discuss the advisability of seceding from the Trades and Labour Council, there was a large attendance, and a lively discussion took place. Membeis express their dissatisfaction with the way in which the business of the council is being conducted. They state that business of importance was placed aside, and the time wasted in poiuical discussion. Until lhe various unions had equal representation on the council, nothing better could be expected. The labour unions, having a largo membership, were entitled to a certain number of delegates, most of whom belonged to the Political Labour League, and the consequence was that the trades unions had to take a back seat. It was finally decided that the secretary should writo to all the trades unions, and ask them to appoint delegates to a conference to be held at a future dale to discuss the best means of improving the position. Members of the unions wl)o were seen by a reporter stated that the inequality of the representation of unions on the Trades and Labour Council, and the prominence given to discussions of poli tical matters, and the preponderance of the Socialistic element, had led to several unions affiliated to the council expressing dissatisfaction, and more than one had threatened secession. Tho basis on which representation on the ''council was "fixed gave a great advantage numerically to the larger unions, the General Labourers' Union having a right to about sixteen delegates to the council, and, as most of the delegates of the larger unions were members of the Political Labour League, the other unions had little power. About half a dozen unions have within the past two months decided to secede fiom the council, but the representatives of that body have generally managed to get the decision reconsidered. Now, however, there seems to be more general dissatisfaction, and an unheaval in labour circles is expected. It is stated on pretty good authority that the o in the carpentering trade — a very large body — are on the eve of seceding.