BRITISH MINEWORKERS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 170, 21 July 1942, Page 5

BRITISH MINEWORKERS

British Official 'Wireless. Rec. 1.30 p.m. RUGBY, July 20. The executive of the Mineworkers' Federation, after a private session, passed a resolution approving, in principle, of the proposals for the creation of one union for the industry with only one dissentient. The effect of the plan will be that 23 districts, associated with a total membership of 750,000, will become one. Mr. William Lawther, president of the Mineworkers' Federation, said the conference had faced up to the fact that the industry had now been organised along national lines and it was incumbent on miners also to adopt a national form of organisation. All districts will be asked to submit any possible objections to the scheme and when all replies have been examined a report will be placed before a special conference of the federation for its adoption. In the event of the proposal coming into effect Mr. Ebby Edwards, present secretary of the federation, is mentioned as likely secretary of the new union. The present district association secretaries would probably become district officers, retaining "their present salaries.