ARBITRATION ACT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8331, 17 January 1913, Page 11

ARBITRATION ACT

A DRASTIC CHANGE PROPOSED BSY FEDERATION Isa'S. Special to the “Times.” AUCKLAND, January 16. With reference to the conference called by the New Zealand Federation of Labour, which takes places at Wellington on Tuesday, tho “Star’s ” con-tributor-on Labour topics says: “1 understand it in intended to lay before the conference next week a proposal to urge tho Government to delete the clause from the Arbitration Act by which tho minimum number required to form an industrial union is fifteen, and make it so that before a union can be registered under tho Act it must consist of a majority of the workers engaged in the industry affected. This is a tar more drastic proposal than appears on the surface, and would not be m tho best interests of unionism. Very many of the unions now in existence owe their being to tho clause that is now sought to bo removed. Tho Auckland Cabmen’s Union was formed with eleven members (the minimum was then seven under the Act). The Dairymen’s Union was • formed with sixteen, although their membership rolls have since exceeded 100, and these are only typical of dozens of other unions who have all had their origin in ‘ tho day of small beginnings.’ In my opinion, a bettor . proposal would be to provide that no union shall be registered where a union embracing - the majority of workers in tho industry concerned 1s already in existence, be it registered or unregistered.”