FEDERATION LEVY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8181, 24 July 1912, Page 4

FEDERATION LEVY

AUCKLAND TRAMWAY MEN. MANY REFUSE 'JDO PAY. Strong resentment prevails in the ranks of tho Auckland Tramways Union against the Federation ‘of Labor on account of its attitude towards the Waihi strike, this resentment being shown by many members of the union definitely refusing to pay the 2s levy per week decided upon to assist the strikers.. Last Friday week refusals to pay the levy were received fi;om fifty-six members of the union, and several additional members refused to pay last Friday. A motorman informed a “Herald” representative that the ranks of the open resisters to the levy would continue to be strengthened as the days fixed for payment came round. “There is no doubt,” he said, “that the majority of those contributing to the strike fund are heartily sick of the whole business. The’ feeling is growing that the federation is ‘goosed,’ and that tho moderate men are realising that the federation is entirely run by irresponsible Socialists, whose policy seems to be to keep the industrial world in a continual state of ferment.”

Asked as to why members of the unr ion opposed to the federation did not make active and united effort to sever connection with that body, ho said: “While there is certainly a majority of members opposed to the federation, as can be gathered from conversations of the men who assemble at times in groups about the depots, there is also a feeling that it would be cowardly to withdraw from the federation at the present juncture. As soon as the Wailii trouble is settled one way_ or the other,” he concluded, “I predict that tho Auckland Tramways Union ' will take active steps to sever its connection with the federation.”