BREAK WITH ALLIANCE

Hawera Star, Volume L, 10 January 1931, Page 5

BREAK WITH ALLIANCE

TRADES AND LABODRI COUNCID.

DECISION AT WELLINGTON

(By 'Lf'.csraDn —Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 9. An important step was taken at a meeting of the Wellington Trades and Labour Council to-day when it was decided that the council, which hitherto has acted as district council of the Alliance of Labour, should sever its connection with the Alliance. Some time ago when the Trades Council’s Federation, which had a membership of a dozen trades and labour iooiundils, decided to _ affiliate with the New Zealand Alliance of Labour the Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin .councils objected, with the result that the Trades and Labour Council’s Federation, which was then a, national body, lapsed. Nearly a year ago the Alliance amended its rules so as to make it necessary for the Trades Councils Federation to have _at least three councils affiliated to it before the Alliance could recognise the federation. At that time the Wellington council was in effect the federation, and the Wellington Council retained its identity with the Alliance as the district council of the Alliance of Labour pending negotiations for an adjustment of the position. An attempt at an adjustment failed, with the result that the Wellington Council has now definitely severed its connection with the Alliance.

When the Alliance amended its rules it was prepared to accept each trades and labour council as a seperate affiliation Wellington desired affiliation on the federation basis but Dunedin accepted the Alliance proposal. A week ago the Christchurch Trades and Labour Council convened a meeting to be held not later than February with a view to reviving the Trades Councils Federation. So far no stops) have been taken at Wellington in connection with the matter.