N.Z. UNION DUES

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28265, 1 May 1957, Page 3

N.Z. UNION DUES

Payments To Labour Federation (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 30. Union contributions in New Zealand were considerably lower than in European countries, Britain, Canada, the United States, and Australia, said Mr F. P. Walsh in his presidential address to the annual conference of. the Federation of Labour today. He was referring to difficulties some unions had in paying affiliation fees to the federation. After discussing the costs of running a union, Mr Walsh said it was necessary that all unions budget for their affiliation fees to the federation. Some unions not affiliated had complained that the subscription paid by their members was not sufficient to pay the Is 6d a member to the federation. For instance, the New Zealand Freezing Workers’ Association had regretted that it was unable to continue its affiliation. Mr Walsh said that the federation had made gains for all wage and salary earners, but many of them did not contribute a penny towards the running expenses of the federation. The executive recommended that union contributions be increased commensurate with wage increases and costs as from a 1917 base, when the average “wage of £3 compared with more than £l2 , today.

A recent amendment to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, he added, permitted a union to amend its rules to provide for the payment of 2s a week union subscription. The act further provided for a sum in excess of 2s a week, provided a majority of the members approved. Mr Walsh said he also thought there should be a reduction in the number of registered trade unions. Some of the small unions were not in a financial position-to operate efficiently.

Remanded.— Charged with indecently assaulting a woman on the Wellington-Auckland express on April 18, Roy Thomson was remanded in the Magistrate’s Court at Wanganui yesterday to appear in the Magistrate’s Court at Taihape on May 14. Thomson was also charged with drinking intoxicating liquor on the train, and this charge will also be heard at Taihape. Mr S. S. Preston, S.M., renewed bail.— (P.AJ