ARBITRATION COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19688, 15 January 1926, Page 9

ARBITRATION COURT.

WORKERS’ REPRESENTATIVE. OPPOSITION TO MR HUNTER A DICTATORIAL CIRCULAR. (From Our Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, January 14. The union secretaries at the Christchurch Trades Hall were surprised on opening their mail this morning to find a circular letter from the New Zealand Trades and Labour Council’s Federation urging all unions to support Mr A. L. Monteith for the position of workers’ member of the Arbitration Court, and Mr F. Cornwell for the position of acting workers’ member.

The circular, which is addressed to "all unions,” is dated to-day. It stated that the federation executive was of the opinion that the voice of the workers’ representative has not been exercised sufficiently, and could have been heard more distinctly when awards and pronouncements were made, and that unions could not afford to place themselves in the position of recording a vote of confidence in the record of the court during the last three years by again electing the present personnel. Such action would certainly be taken as a vote of confidence in the past policy of the majority of the court. Therefore the executive felt that the unions could not afford to vote confidence in view of the court’s past record. The letter is signed on behalf of the federation by W. Atkinson, president, and P, E. Warner, secretary. In view of the fact that the federation has taken action in the matter, without having consulted the Trades Councils in either Auckland, Christchurch, or Dunedin, the arrival of the circular this morning caused a good deal of outspoken comment at the Trades Hall. “It can only be characterised as a highhanded and dictatorial action,” said Mr C. Renn, the secretary of a group of unions. “As a matter of fact,” he added, “the circular does not contain one single reason why unions should throw the sitting men overboard. It is merely dictatorial without giving reasons for the faith of the signatories in their candidates. The whole thing savours of a hole and comer business.” Mr W. J. Green, secretary of the Trades and Labour Council, said that the circular had been issued without the council, which was affiliated to the Federation, having been consulted. The council had not considered the matter yet. “I do not think the circular will influence our union in the slightest,” said Mr E. Snow, secretary of the Tramway Employees’ Union, He added that if he could judge by expressions of opinion he had heard, the union was not likely to do otherwise than support the present representatives on the court. Mr E. Parlane, secretary of the Canterbur;/ Drivers' Union, said he believed that all the drivers in New Zealand would support the present representative. Mr Hiram Hunter, who had done as good work as any man could do in the position. The opinion that the Alliance of Labour, which has decided to adopt a neutral attitude in connection with the matter, should now decide to support Mr Hunter and Mr Sill, the present acting member, was expressed by Mr F. C. Sllis, secretary of the New Zealand Freezing Workers’ Federation, Mr Ellis said that three years ago the Alliance had supported Messrs Hunter and Sill, and he saw no reason why they should not support them again. There was no need for a change, Mr Hunter having done as good work as it was possible for any man to do.