TRAMWAYS SUPPORT LABOUR FEDERATION

Chronicle (Levin), 17 January 1947, Page 8

TRAMWAYS SUPPORT LABOUR FEDERATION

WELLINGTON, Jan. 16. An importan't dgvelopmcnt in the waterfrout dispute avus announced todav, wlien it was stated that Wellington t rain way workers had niet and earried a resolution in support of the policy followed by the Federation of Labour. Si'gnificauee is attaehed to the attitude of tlie tramwaynieu, whose 01'gani nation is a coniponenl of Ihe Transport Workers' Federation, which ro cently offered (0 intervcne in tlie deadlock and to take over tlie case of tlie Waterside Workers' Union, an afiilia tion of the Federation, with the object of reaehing a settlement. At the, time, there was a mistaken tendeney to inter pret that development as full support of the Union, with possibilities of in volving other transport unions, Q.nd threatening ihe position and preslige of the Federation of Labour. No far, Ihe reactions 01' Waterside Workers' Union officials to the development are not known, as the ofii cials haYe been in e.oiisnltation with tlw .(}bVfeyt|nTetet-.. ; >The :.'de vel.op ohui tj repre sents it-nother plfasb' in tlHUgiT)uj^lnJf 'oi' -Trade unioir' opi'nioA'-in- -support of tlieFedeTation of Labour, or the Union. Karlier today, becauso of suggestioiis that the Waterside Workers' Union ofiicials have been disappointed at the exlenl of the outside support accorded tliem, the national president of the Union, Mr. H. Barnes, of Auckland, and tlie national secretary, Arr. .T. Hill, of Wellington, were approached 011 the point. Thev said they were happv about the support which was being giveu to the Union., The announcement of the tramwaymen 's opinion was released this morning by the Federation of Labour. The announcement stated that meetings had been held of .tlie a.m. and p.m. shifts of tramway workers, and botli luid passed resolutions in favour of the policy of the Federation.