COMMUNIST HEADS WEST COAST SECTION OF T.U.C.

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 June 1950, Page 4

COMMUNIST HEADS WEST COAST SECTION OF T.U.C.

A West Coast section of the Trade Union Congress was formed at a meeting of miners’ and watersiders’ delegates at Greymouth last evening. A provisional executive was formed with the Communist Party Parliamentary candidate, Mr R. H. Hitchell, at its head. The meeting lasted for 3] hours. A number of decisions on policy matters were reached last evening, but, according to the secretary, Mr A. J Panther, this morning, all recommendations will be considered by the rank and file of the unions represented by delegates at the meeting. Other than that he would make no comment on the matters discussed. He had also no comment to make today when asked whether the section had called on its member-organ-isations to observe with the waterside workers’ union, a stoppage of work on Wednesday—the opening of Parliament —to protest against the lemoval of subsidies. m TT _ The West Coast section of the T.U.C. is the first to be established other than in a city. Other sections are at Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland. Provisional secretary of the Canterbury T.U.C., Mr F. McNulty, was present at last evening’s meeting in an advisory capacity. Delegates present included the following: Messrs A. McGougan (Blackball Miners’ Union), R. H. Mitchell, J. Harrington, J. Guy (Runanga Miners’ Union), J. Ross, W. Baker (Wallsend Miners’ Union), L. Cron, J. Malone (Dobson Miners’ Union), J. Meikle (Roa Miners’ Union), W. Meates, I. Ferguson and A. J. Panther (Waterside Workers’Union). The provisional executive elected, was announced as follows:—-Presi-dent; Mr Mitchell; vice-president, Mr Harrington; secretary, Mr Panther; committee, Messrs McGougan, Meikle, Guy, Meates, Baker and Malone. The next move in the formation of a permanent branch will probably follow the national conference, at which a constitution will be devised. On the acceptance of a constitution, the West Coast section will then go ahead with the election of officers to hold seats on the executive for a term.