AUTHORITY EXCEEDED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27025, 9 March 1949, Page 6

AUTHORITY EXCEEDED

AUCKLAND TRADES COUNCIL CONTROL OF NATIONAL UNIONS PA WELLINGTON, Mar. 8. “As a result of representations from a number of our affiliations, the • national executive of the Federation of Labour met to-day and gave careful consideration to the trend of events arising out of the Dominion carpenters’ dispute," stated the secretary of the federation, Mr K. Baxter. “The resolution passed by the Auckland Trades Council on March 4 was also considered. The national executive desires to point out that the Auckland Trades Council exceeded its authority under the constitution of the Federation of Labour when it purported to direct and control in the carpenters’ dispute the action of national unions. In order to clear the air, the national executive desires to point out that the New Zealand carpenters’ dispute is a national dispute, and in terms of the constitution of the Federation of Labour, if the Carpenters’ Union desires our assistance it is obliged to hand over the dispute to the Federation of Labour. My national executive has consequently passed the following resolution, which will be directed to the national officials of the Carpenters’ Union:— ‘That in view of the fact that your dispute has now involved other unions of workers and the likelihood of the dispute extending and involving the whole of our affiliations, we request the officials of the New Zealand Carpenters’ Union to hand over the dis- ’ pute immediately to ■ the national executive of the New Zealand Federation of Labour to endeavour to effect a settlement.’ “ It has also come to our notice that a body calling itself an ‘action committee’ is usurping the functions not only of the Auckland Trades Council but also of the national council and national executive of the New Zealand Federation of Labour. We are therefore compelled in the interests of our affiliations to call upon them not to recognise or accept the advice or conform to the decisions issued by this body which is usurping the functions of the Auckland Trades Council.”