ARBITRATION UNIONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 14 April 1914, Page 6

ARBITRATION UNIONS

(United P.ress Association.) WELLINGTON', This Day. A conference of delegates from arbitration unions, convened by the Auckland Secretaries' Association, ' commeiVed here to-day. for the purpose of considering the Arbitration and', .Conciliation Acts generally, and particularly the labour Disputes Act. Mr Arthur Rosser (Auckland), in opening the proceedings, declared that thev had got the idea" of the conference from the "enemy." Some time ago the secretary of the Ohinemuri Miners' and Battery Employees' Union, which waD not a "real arbitration body, issued a. circular to all arbitration unions, asking them to send delegates to a conference to be held either at Wellington or Auckland. Auckland unions felt that thev could not sit in conference with unions of the Ohinemuri stamp withoutlosing their self-respect, but resolved to profit by the idea, and the present conference Was accordingly convened. The present was to be a memorable year in the history of labour. It was election year, and* to promote their cause they wanted to secure unitv in whatever they did. Mr Rosser-was elected chairman, and Mr B. Martin secretary. Press representatives, with the exception of the "Maoriland Worker's" reporter, were excluded.