THE FEDERATION OP LABOUR

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22504, 12 September 1938, Page 4

THE FEDERATION OP LABOUR

TO THB EDITOR OF THB PRESS. . Sir, —For the information of “Clerk” may I state that the New* Zealand Federation of Labour was formed in April, 1937, by the achievement of unity between the Alliance of Labour and the Trades and Labour Councils’ Federation, the two hitherto existing federations of unions. Since the month mentioned practically all the trade union organisations have affiliated, so that at the present day there are approximately 200,000 unionists under the banner of the federation, with only a few thousand remaining outside. The Federation of Labour is

really a union of unions with a fairly democratic constitution and central leadership represented by the national executive, resident, with I think one exception, in Wellington. In addition to the national executive there is a national council, including national executive members, representing the affiliated district trades councils, which meets periodically for the guidance of the national executive between Dominion conferences. The Federation of Labour is now affiliated to the International Federation of Trade Unions, with over 20,000,000 members, soon, I hope, to increase to nearly 50,000,000 members by the achievement of world trade union unity through the long-delayed affiliation of the Russian trade unions. Those leaders who have been responsible for maintaining that split are now losing ground. The New Zealand Federation of Labour has as an object organisation of the workers along the lines of class and industry, which means that ultimately each union organisation will comprise all the workers in the particular industry covered, irrespective of their type of calling. This is industrial unionism; organisation according to the particular type of work done is craft unionism. I hope the federation will soon accelerate its pace in the direction of industrial unionism. For many years I have heard it said that every trade union official should pass an examination to qualify for his position. Mr Hiram Hunter’s letter proves that greater regard should have been paid to this truism in the days when he had much to do with guiding the destinies of important trade union bodies. Had there been this compulsion, possibly we should not have had Mr Hunter writing such nonsense. The drivers and tramwaymen who employed him might have seen to ,it that he learned that the building* of industrial unionism out of the craft unions did not mean “disruption” and “suicide” but a wider sanity. But the failure of Mr Hunter and many another union leader to rise above a craft outlook is now history, and in his case has led to a choice of strange company. Others should watch their step! Mr Hunter’s definition of the Soviet system is a scream. But there, I don’t want to chide the drivers and tramwaymen too much for the laxities of their youth!— Yours, etc..

C. F. SAUNDERS. September 10, 1938.