“Off Again, On Again”— Honours With Militants After Labour “Battle”: Government Left In Jam

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 May 1949, Page 5

“Off Again, On Again”— Honours With Militants After Labour “Battle”: Government Left In Jam

(SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT)

WELLINGTON, This Day.—Yesterday -was a topsy-turvy day at the conference of the Federation of Labour. In a kind of “off again, on again”' way, the delegates swung first against officialdom and in favour of the trouble-makers, and then reversed their earlier decision in a last-minute return to a state of grace. To observers it was rather bewildering, but again string-pulling was undoubtedly responsible. Yet the facts speak for themselves. The conference, whatever strings were pulled, stands firmly against the “scab” Carpenters’ Union.

Proceedings yesterday began with a report by the vice-president of the federation (Mr F. P. Walsh) on the action taken by the national executive in the carpenters’ dispute, and was followed by an amendment moved by Mr H. Barnes (New Zealand Watersiders) seconded by Mr John Roberts (Christchurch Clothing Workers) that “under no circumstances will this conference recognise the scab carpenters’ union in Auckland, and will place all its resources and strength behind the bona fide union.” Mr Barnes’s amendment was carried by the surprising majority of 148 to 96. The fact that at the end of the day there came a volte face, with the conference voting by 206 to 82 to delete from Mr H. Barnes’s original motion all the words after “scab union” so that the emasculated motion standing in the name of the conference read “that under no circumstances will this conference recognise the scab union,” really did not alter the position. The Government was still left in a jam. Delegates Walked Out In addition, the fact that over 30 delegates filed out in protest, among them all the waterside workers, carpenters and freezing workers’ delegates, made it appear that the split which had earlier been avoided had now been created. ■ Mr Barnes, father of the morning s resolution, had gone home to Auckland and it appeared that advantage of this fact had been taken. In any case, it remains to be seen whether the “moderates” really have achieved a victory. The Labour Party conference opening today will be attended by many of the delegates who walked out from the federation conference. There appears every likelihood that the whole question will be reopened at this conference. As Mr McLagan was responsible for the deregistration of the old union and for the promise to register the new one, there will be scope enough for raising the whole issue. “Pretty Tattered”

If a split in the federation has really been avoided, the seeds of trouble have been, sown for the Labour Party. In the meantime, the iederation conference business has been entirely disrupted. The remits were not even reached, and, if any semblance of real unity has been retained, it is obviously pretty tattered. The history of the federation dispute is this. After officials of .the federation had breathed an obvious sigh of relief at the apparent ending of the discussion on the Auckland carpenters’ dispute, the subject, flaied ui again yesterday morning m debate. The conference adjourned for luncn having passed by a large majority a motion that the “scab” union be not recognised, and that the fedeiation support fully the original union. . Further discussion during the aiteinoon pared down the resolution to one of non-support of the new union. The first decision was arrived at after a debate on the question of the registration of the new union, aftei a statement on Thursday evening by the president of the Carpenters Union (Mr F L Langley) that the Supreme Court action for a writ of injunction against its registration would be withdrawn. [The application was dismissed today by Mr Justice Gresson, with costs of 25 guineas and disbursements against the plaintiffs.] “Go-Slow” Strike The dispute stems back to the goslow policy adopted by the Auckland Carpenters’ Union as a protest against a wages award made by the Arbitration Court; which resulted in its deregistration by the Minister of Labour (Mr A. McLagan). This was followed by a breakaway by a large section ot the Auckland carpenters, and their request for the registration of a new union. The Minister’s consent was withheld, pending the hearing in the Supreme Court of the deregistered union’s plea for a stay of proceedings. With the case set down for hearing yesterday morning, all discussion at the conference was taken in committee, legal advice being that as the matter was sub judice any comment might be held to be contempt of Court. However, just before the conference rose on Thursday evening, Mr Langley s statement gave the opportunity fora full-dress debate, which was taken advantage of by supporters of the deregistered union. Much String-pulling There must have been a deal of string-pulling behind the scenes to avert the threatened split. It was an uneasy peace, however, that was created, as was proved when the dissidents threw their bombshell right on the point of adjournment on Thursday evening. ~ ~ Honours appear' to lie with the dissidents, whatever the voting figures may show. Thursday opened on a note of passion with discussion on the troubled subject of whether or not the Waterside Workers’ Union should withdraw and apologise for certain statements their officials had made about the national executive of the Federation of Labour.

Women delegates were warned, that the language used by the watersiders officials in their correspondence with the federation was not fit for ladies’ ears and it was suggested they should withdraw. One woman delegate made some pointed comments on this, but reluctantly they did leave with one exception, and soon all were back in the hall.

There was little friendliness about the subsequent exchanges between the watersiders’ leaders and the platform, but early in the afternoon, faced with what was the inevitable outcome of their stand, the watersiders announced they were prepared to withdraw their fetters. This was accepted by the chairman and the matter was referred to the national executive.

It was just on 5 p.m. when the conference was about to adjourn that the carpewters threw their new bombshell. It was prettily timed and splendidly exploded.

Militants JubiLJt Mr F. L, Langley, national president of the New Zealand Carpenters’ Union, touched it off. He asked that standing orders, be suspended in order to enable him to make a statement. The .chairman, Mr Croskery, refused. Mr [Langley, remaining on his feet, mildly I explained that what he had to say ■. would take only a moment and he was. then allowed to proceed. He said that i his union had that morning placed the carpenters’ dispute in the hands of the

Federation of Labour and the proceedings in the Supreme Court case, set down for Friday,’ 1 were now being withdrawn. His union had the assurance of Mr Croskery that the matter could be discussed and a decision made by the conference regarding the deregistration of one union and the registration of another.

There were rounds of applause at the announcement, but the cheerfulness was dispelled when it was explained that' this action would cancel out the question of prejudice which had hitherto curbed the discussion and that the carpenters proposed to raise the question of whether or not the federation proposed to support what was termed “scab union.”

The militants were jubilant afterwards, explaining that carpenters’ leaders had carried out an adroit manoeuvre. What it really meant was that, whatever the Federation of Labour conference decided, the whole problem had been tossed neatly into the lap of the Minister of Labour, Mr McLagan. In other words the Government, in deregistering the Carpenters’ Union and promising to register a new union, had created a problem for itself.

OFFICIAL REPORT SUPPLIED: STORMY SCENES WELLINGTON, This Day (P.A.).— An official report supplied by the Federation of Labour conference said that late in the afternoon Mr F. Crook, secretary of the United Mine Workers’ Union, said his union wanted from tlie federation an interpretation of the resolution adopted during the morning on the motion of Mr Barnes. Mr Walsh, as acting chairman, said he would interpret the resolution adopted during the morning to mean that the whole resources of the trade union movement were to be placed behind the Auckland carpenters’ organisation. In the terms used in the resolution that could mean only the general stoppage of work. If the language of the resolution meant anything, it meant a direct challenge to the Government.

Mr P. M. Butler (general labourers) said, that in view of the veryserious interpretation given, he would move that the matter be recommitted. “This was greeted with quite a big scene,” the report continued.

Mr Butler said, the report stated, that in the lunch hour many delegates had asked him if he knew what the resolution meant, and he had agreed fully with the interpretation Mr Walsh had just given.. Mr Butler said the constitution laid it down that the federation carried out the policy laid down by the annual conference. The conference, in the resolution adopted earlier, was not telling the national executive that they must put their full resources behind the Carpenters’ Union. If delegates wanted that, then they would not vote for the recommittal of the question, but if they did not want it, they would vote for the recommittal. An attempt was being made by the resolution carried that morning to pull the wool over the delegates’ eyes. The first part of the resolution was quite clear. The second part meant that the conference had decided to do everything Messrs Drennan, Stanley and Sid Scott had decided.

“Uproar” At Statement At this statement, said the official report, there was an uproar. Mr J. R. Scott (Electrical Workers’ Union, Wellington) told the conference that if the strike came, every delegate would be without heat and power. If recommittal was not agreed to, then it was inevitably a vote of no confidence in the executive and the conference would be the laughing stock of New Zealand.

Again, said the official report, there was an uproar.

Mr A. Mitchell (Auckland water - siders) objected to the proposal to recommit the resolution. He said the mover of the original motion, Mr Barnes, was not in the hall to renly, having left that afternoon by train for Auckland. Mr Butler’s motion for the recommittal of the resolution was carried by 177 votes to 85. ■ Mr Butler then moved that the second part of the resolution adopted in the morning, “that the federation places all its strength and resources behind the bona fide union,” be deleted. He said the delegates could trust the executive.

The official report added that there was no debate, and the motion that the question be put was then carried. Mr Butler's motion was then submitted to the conference and carried, “amid great applause,” by 20G votes to 68. The official report said: “At this stage more than 30 watersiders’, carpenters’ and freezing workers’ delegates walked out, being roundly applauded as they left the hall.” The final resolution of the conference stood as follows: “In no circumstances will this conference recognise the scab union.” “Insulting Remarks” Alleged The official report added that as Mi* Butler spoke, a visitor to the conference passed insulting remarks about him. The watersiders, continued the report, had a visitor or delegate present from every port in New Zealand. After the resolution had been dealt with, Mr Walsh rose to say that the conference took the strongest objection to such action, and moved that it be referred to the executive to take up with the Waterside Union executive. He said: “A big gang came in for a specific purpose.” It was an old tactic of the Communist Party to bring in visitors. Mr Butler moved that Mr Walsh’s resolution be withdrawn, but the conference would not allow it to be withdrawn, and it was carried. The conference pledged its support to the Labour Government and eni dorsed sections of the report dealing 1 with the relations with the Government.