WATERSIDE WORKERS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 23, 27 January 1923, Page 8

WATERSIDE WORKERS

PROPOSED NEW UNION

REGISTRATION IS REFUSED

■ MATTER FOR ARBITRATION COURT. Registration of the recently-formed new union on^the Wellington waterfront has been refused by the Registrar of Industrial Unions (Mr. F. W. Rowley). Advice to this effect has been received by the existing union in the following letfer from Mr. Rowley :—

"With further reference to the application for registration of the Wellington Stevedores and Coal AVorkers' Industrial Union of Workers, I have to say that the'advice of the Crown Law Office has now been received, and in accordance therewith it has been decided that the matter is one for the Arbitration Court to determine; to enable this to be dona registration is refused."

The position with regard to the right of appeal to the Arbitration Court is governed by Section 11 of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, which reads as follows :■ —

_ "In order to prevent the needless multiplication of industrial unions connected with the same industry in the same locality or industrial district, the follow-, ing special provisions shall apply: (aj The Registrar may refuse an industrial union in any case where he is of opinion that in the same , locality or industrial district, and connected' with the same industry there exists an industrial union to which the members of such industrial union may conveniently belong; provided that the Begistrar shall forthwith notify such registered-industrial union that an application of registration has been made, (b) Such industrial union, if dissatisfied with the Registrar's refusal, may in the prescribed manner appeal therefrom to the Court whereupon the Court, after making full inquiry, shall report to the Begistrar whether in its opinion'his refusal should be insisted upon or .waived and the Registrar shall be guided accordingly: Provided that it shall lie on the industrial union to satisfy the Court that, owing to the distance, diversity x>i interest, or other substantial reason, it will be more convenient for the members to register separately than to join any existing industrial union." Accordingly, if those behind the new union desire to go on with the matter it will be necessary for them to appeal to the Arbitration Court to have the decision of the Regis' trar reviewed, and to test the question whether a minority of the members of the existing union have only diversity of interest from the 1 majority.

Some controversy has. arisen as to the identity of the promoters of the new union, and, this morning, Mr. J. Laurenson, secretary-of the old union, made the following statement:—.

"When forming a 'bogus' union, and when dealing with the Registrar or Crown Law Office, the applicants can remain hidden, as the Labour Department regards their claims as strictly confidential. If the applicants now decide to bring the matter before the Court the officers of the union will have to make themselves known to the union already registered."