TRADES UNIONS

Evening Post, Issue 2, 2 July 1932, Page 13

TRADES UNIONS

MEETING, OF COUNCIL

SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES

The fortnightly meeting of the Trades and Labour Council was held on Thursday night, when some matters of interest were considered. The president, Mr. W. T. Young, presided over a good attendance o£ delegates.

In response to a complaint that relief workers on a Miramar job engaged in cutting ti-tree had been prevented from taking bundles home lor firewood and ordered to burn it on the job, representations were made to the Mayor protesting against such orders, who advised the council that the matter was being looked into. A delegate reported that the men were now' being allowed to take the ti-tree nonie tor domestic .purposes. A report from the Trades and Labour Councils' Federation of New Zealand intimated that its New Zealand Council had invited the Now Zealand Alliance of Labour to appoint eight of its number toconier with a similar number of representatives of the federation to discuss the important question of one national indus-trial-organisation of workers for the Dominion, and-that the alliance had rejected the proposal on the ground that the question was one for the Provisional National Council appointed,by the open industrial conference of April of this year. The federation further intimated that in view of this it had invited the Provisional Council to alter, its composition so that the federation and the alliance would each have three representatives on the council, but, although this proposal had been forwarded some three weeks ago, no reply had yet reached the federation. DISCUSSION WITH EMPLOYERS. The president reported that on the 25th June representatives of the Councils' Federation had a friendly and lengthy interview with representatives of the New Zealand Employers' Federation in regard to the conduct and; settlement of disputes before Councils, of Conciliation. The view of both sides, were freely expressed on the present industrial law. The Councils' Federation representatives were of opinion; that the discussions on involved issues would be conducive to the welfare of conflicting interests by the promotion of better feeling and common understand* mg, thereby, paving the way towards the approacument oE questions that will result in settlement of disputes satisfactorily to both sides. The position of the engineering, industry had been specially mentioned and discussed, the workers' representatives.Suggesting that the employers again meet the union in conference with the object of reaching a settlement on the points upon which there was disagreement. The representatives of the employers stated that they would recommend that the conference be asked if the union made the. request in writing. It was felt that the further conference would take place early, and that a settlement of the dispute would be effected before the end of July. v '

Replying to a question1, the president advised that a delegation of the Trades Councils' Federation had waited on the Prime..Minister)and requested the repeal of the War Regulations pertaining to seditious strikes, pointing, out that in these times of .peace the penalties pre^ scribed under the. I. C. and A. Act were sufficient to meet requirements. The Prime Minister referred to the action proposed 'by Sir Thomas Sidey for their repeal, and expressed himself as being favourably disposed to the request of the delegation, and promised to see what could be done.

Replying to a further question, the president stated that there was no relationship between the council and the United Front body, and.that it could not be permitted accommodation in the Trades.Hall. The Relief Workers' Section qE the Labr our movement had been organised by the local-Labour bodies, and was part of the General Labour Movement, and as such it was required to 'observe the policy of the organised Labour movement as formulated and presented from time to time, ■and 'as a unit of"the movement it was not competent for the section to present proposals respecting unemployment relief that differed with the findings of the Labour movement. . . ... .. ...

A delegate reported that relief workers having a war pension of 10s( weekly were having this treated as.one day's work under Scheme 5, and it; was decided that the secretary makeinvestigations through official, sour.ees. These inquiries establish that no such' treatment is being meted out to the pensioners, Mr. Kinsman stating that the scheme takes no notice of pensions, of 17s Cd or under weekly; A motion of condolence with Mr. and Mrs. G. Bodell in the_ loss of their son by death was passed in- silence. ; "

'Messrs. AA r. Allcock and J. Eead were admitted, and welcomed ns delegates representing the Brewery AVorkers' Union.'