FEDERATION OF LABOUR

Grey River Argus, 13 August 1937, Page 7

FEDERATION OF LABOUR

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE g n t Decisions of Meeting 1 NATIONAL EXECUTIVE. 3 WELLINGTON, August 11. 3 Many matters affecting the wels fare of the members of the New i Zealand Federation of Labour were * discussed at a meeting of the Na- | tional Executive held in Wellington. * Mr. A. McLagan presided. In connection with the case for an increase in the standard rates of . W'ages set down for hearing in the ’ Arbitration Court on August 23, it , was agreed that the- Federation should make arrangements for pre- ; senting the case on behalf of the workers and that particular attention should be given to the claims of female workers. It was decided to approach the Prime Minister and the Minister of Labour in connection with the Appeal Court’s finding in the case of the Otago Clerical Workers’ Union with a view to having amending legislation passed to protect those unions which were threatened as a result of the decision. The forthcoming visit to New Zealand of Mr. Arthur Henderson, a prominent British Member of Parliament and a son of the late Mr. Arthur Henderson, who was formerly leader of the Labour Party in Britain, was discussed and it was agreed that the Federation should do its utmost to arrange meetings in the Dominion at which he could be heard. Mr. Henderson will represent the International Peace Campaign at an international peace conference to be held in Melbourne. After discussion the executive decided to wait upon'the Government in connection with the matter of wages paid to unemployed workers and to make an endeavour to secure an increase in the present rates of pay. The executive also proposes to bring before the Government the question of the present overloaded I state of the Arbitration Court. Notwithstanding the promisee made in reply to the representations of the Federation in the past, the position had not been relieved and as a matter of fact was growing more serious Not only were industrial cases being held up, but grave injury was also being done to workers who were awaiting decisions from the Court in connection with compensation cases. The Federation intends to approach the Government asking it to make legislative provision for ten-minute rest periods both morning and afternoon among all workers. It was pointed out that there was ample statistical information available proving thatifeherever this privilege had been granted to the workers their output had more than justified the concession. Surprise was expressed that employers in New Zealand had not taken more advantage of such a proposal as this. A conference has been arranged by the executive between the New Zealand Engineering Trades Union and the New Zealand Coachworkers’ and Motor Body Builders’ Union with a view to the amalgamation of these two organisations. It was decided to recommend the various Trades Councils to set up | legislative committees in order to give advice to the National Executive on any amendments to industrial ’abour laws desired by members of the movement in their particular districts.

It was reported that the affiliations to, the Federation now numbered 201 with a total membership of 130,296.