Auckland Will Be Scene Of Trial Of Strength Between Rival Factions

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 April 1950, Page 5

Auckland Will Be Scene Of Trial Of Strength Between Rival Factions

Trades Council Elections And Trades

Union Congress Hopes

Al ('KLAN'D, Last Night (PA). —Forces are now being marshalled in Auckland for a trial of strength between the Trades Council, the subsidiary oi the New Zealand Federation of Labour, and adherents of the New Zealand Trades Union Congress, formed after a split in the Federation last week.

Under the proposed constitution of th*? Congress a. rival Trades Council will be established in the city.

It is known that representatives of the “break-away” group have been lobbying for support from those local unions which have not openly shown on which side of the fence they belong. An indication of how many will remain loyal to the old organisation will be obtained at the annual meeting of the Trades Council next Thursday night, when delegates will be required to elect a new set of officers for the ensuing yeer.

Nominations for the Trades Council election c'osed before the cleavage occurred in the Federation. Among the nominees were prominent supporters of the Congress, who had intended making a Kd to gai n control of the Couni ,1 while their names will be on the ballot papers. The present president, Mr. T. J. Anderson, of the Seamen’s Union, and his supporters are likely 1o be returned without opposition. Some of the dissident unions may not send their delegates to the meeting, but others, claiming that they have a right to be present as they have paid affiliation fees for the current year, are considering sending representatives as a form of challenge. “The situation Is very confused,” said Mr. Anderson when he was asked whether break-away delegates would be admitted to Thursday night’s melting. “We have received no official notice of any withdrawals, therefore we must assume that all affiliations are eligible to be present and to vote.’’ The secretary of the Auckland Ceramic and General Labourers’ Union. Mr. T. G. Potter, the local spokesman for the new Congress, confirmed that a trades council on simlar lines to the existing body was to be stabilished. He said the Congress constitution would closely follow that of the Federation except In two respects: (1) The National executive would have a quorum of five, and (2), there would be no residential qualification for the executve. Under the Federation’s rules there was no quorum, and members of the executive were to reside in Wellington. ONLY MINOR CLASHES AT COUNCIL MEETING < WELLINGTON, Last Night (P.A.) —Two delegates from unions whose national officials walked out of the Federation of Labour conference last week accepted nomination and were elected to the management committee of the Wellington Trades Council of the Federation tonight. The delegates were Mr. F. O’Sullivan, Wellinglon, secretary of the Hotel and Restaurant Workers’ Union, and Mr. E. L. Tregoweth, secretary of the Wellington branch of the Carpenters' Union. Mr. Trego wv th told the Trades Council that although delegates from the carpenters’ organisation walked out from the Federation conference the union was still an affiliated body, and as their representative on the Trades Council he offered himself for a position on the management committee. The meeting was attended by about 100 delegates but no representative was present, from the watersiders, tramways or drivers’ union , whose national officials walked out of the Federation conference. There were one or two minor clashes of opinion among delegates over the references of the president, Mr. F. P. Walsh, to the break-away and Communism in the trade union movement. Mr. T. Magee, secretary of the Wellington drivers’ union walked out of the Federation conference, did not seek re-election to the management committee. After discussion of the walk-out from the Federation conference lhe following resolution was carried, Mr. Walsh stating afterwards that there were two dissentients: — “This annual meeting of the Wellington Trades Council, believing the fundamental basis of the trade union movement is acceptance of majority decisions and that there is no room in our democratic movement for persons who refuse to accept this principle, places on record its wholehearted support for the national executive of the Federation and for the decisions of the annual conference. “We arc qf opinion that, the conference maintained the traditional unity of industrial workers and we congratulate those delegates who, resisting dictation, maintained the elementary principle of democracy that majority decisions must rule. We call on all trade unionists to rally to the support, of their properly constituted Federation of Labour by attending (heir union meetings and demanding an explanation from those delegates who left the conference contrary to the decision of their respective unions, and that they be on their guard | against, further disruption planned by Communists and Tories.”