FEDERATION OF LABOUR

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24901, 14 June 1946, Page 8

FEDERATION OF LABOUR

OFFICERS ELECTED MR A. W. CROSKERY THE NEW PRESIDENT (P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 13. Mr A. W. Croskery (Shop Assistants’ Federation) was elected president of the New Zealand 'Federation of Labour at the annual conference to-day. Mr F. P. Walsh (Seamen’s Union) was elected vice-president. The following were appointed members of the executive:—Messrs F. C. Allerby (Drivers’ Federation), W. A. Fox (Cooks’ and Stewards’ Union), H. Thompson (Plumbers’ Union and New Zealand Building Trade Workers’ Federation), and L. Hadley (Enginedrivers’ Union) These results are regarded in trade union circles as a significant victory for the moderates within the movement. Of particular interest is the return of Mr Walsh, whose recent Stabilisation report has given rise to strong differences of opinion within the federation, particularly in the light of the support it received among employers’ organisations. The two new members of the executive are Messrs Thompson and Hadley. Mr Croskery was very warmly received as the federation’s second president and as the national trade union leader. He has been associated with the political and industrial Labour movement and secretary of the Wellington Amalgamated Shop Assistants’ Union for 35 years, as well as secretary of the New Zealand Shop Assistants’ Federation since its inception. He was the workers' represen-

tative on the No. 2 Court of Arbitration during its term of office. Mr Croskery represented the New Zealand Federation of Labour at conferences of the International Federation of Trade Unions and the World Federation of Trade Unions in London in February, 1945. He was for six years a Labour representative on the Wellington Hospital Board and chairman of its house committee during that period. He was vice-president last year of the Federation of Labour and has held that and other national offices in the federation in previous years. ■ ' •