WORKERS’ UNION

Otago Witness, Issue 3510, 21 June 1921, Page 42

WORKERS’ UNION

.-<> ANNUAL CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON, June 15. The sixth annual conference of the New Zealand Workers’ Union opened to-day. In welcoming the delegates, the retiring president, Mr .Arthur Cook, said that the conference was the most important yet held. Referring to the unemployment problem, he impressed upon the delegates the extreme gravity of the situation in the shearing industry. He considered that tho scheme outlined in Sydney in March relating to tho formation of one big union throughout Australasia should be heartily endorsed by tho conference. The industrial situation was so critical in New Zealand and Australia that any further delay in the realisation of the scheme would have fatal consequences. In regard i:o tiie dispute with the sheepo-vners, he said that if the union could not get justice through the Arbitration Court, or bv agreement, it cvould be necessary for all members to enforce the claims on their job. The conference set up a committee to meet one representative from the Alliance of Labour to discuss proposals for affiliation with that body. June 16. Tho Workers’ Union Conference to-day adopted the One Big Union scheme, drafted by the Australian convention in March last. It was decided to take a plebiscite of members on the subject. A date is being arranged for a mooting of the representatives of Ihe Alliance of Labour to discuss amalgamation with that body.