IN TOUCH WITH AUSTRALIA.

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 89, 14 April 1917, Page 10

IN TOUCH WITH AUSTRALIA.

There has lately been a tendency in New Zealand Labour circles to get into closer touch with Australian organisations. The seamen are so closely in sympathy 'that they become virtually one' body j and the Australian Meat Trades' Federation has recently demonstrated its interest in Dominion matters by sending Mr. Anthony Ogden to tour the country in the interests of closer organisation. Mr. Ogden's tour has now concluded, and has been' successful bo far as the formation of a united New Zealand (though not Australasian) body is concerned. Now the Agricultural and Pastoral Workers' Union has under consideration the matter of linking up with the A.W.U. In reply to the general secretary (Mr. C. Grayndler), ,the A.W.U. has promised whole-hearted assistance, and advised the best methods of bringing about unification. It has been suggested that a referendum of the A.P.U. should be taken at once on the question, and the result submitted to the A.W.U.. Consideration will probably be given to this question when the A.P.U. Conference meets towards the end of this month. Of course, in the three cases cited there is a very definite bond of interest, since Australians and New Zealanders in the shipping, Shearing, and meat-freezing trades are to a certain extent wanderers from place to place. When it comes to a union between organisations which have no such extensive interchange of members the matter would probably not be so easily settled.