TRADES COUNCIL AND UNIONS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 11, 13 July 1909, Page 8

TRADES COUNCIL AND UNIONS.

THE CHRISTCHURCH TROUBLE. [BY TEI.CGB.VFU — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCJH, This Day. Although no secessions from the Trades and Labour Council were announced at t-he meeting on Saturday evening, disaffection amongst t-he unions seems to be spreading rapidly. Several unions meet this week to consider the question of their allegiance, and two more unions — tho 'Metalworkers and Iron-moulders — have definitely decided to withdraw. Several othor secessions are also expected. No steps have yet been taken by the disaffected unions to combine. A proposal to establish another body in opposition to the Trades Council has been discussed amongst individual members of the union, and a scheme in this direction may be prepared in a few days. The result of the annual meeting of the Trades Council on Saturday evening has not had the effect of narrowing the breach. .Most of the officers elected belong to the "Red Flag" sections, as the Socialists are called. The Parliamentary Bills Committee also contains some prominent Socialists. It is stated that several of the steadier members of the council declined to be nominated, as they did not wish to be a-ssociated with the advanced section. The meeting was characteristic of most of th« of the meetings of the council lately, tho old members being conspicuous* by their absence, and leaving the field in possession of those who have introduced general politics, and who are accused of using the council as a, means of advancing their own political views and aspirations. The Hotel Employees' Union, which feels that it has been treated by the council with discourtesy and contumely, and which is amongst the secessionists, will probably held aloof fiom any organisation of the nature of a Trades Council. Members of that union believe that their interest will be served best by the establishment of a federation embracing employees in all the principal centres of New Zealand.