FEDERATION STILL ADAMANT

Chronicle (Levin), 29 August 1947, Page 6

FEDERATION STILL ADAMANT

Press Association)

(Per

WELLINGTON, August 28. The nutioual cOuncil of tlie New Zealand Federation of Labour remains adainant in its objeetion to that section' of tlie Govermnent 's Industrial Conciliation aiul Arbitration Aet Amendment Bill which provides for the takiug of • compulsory secret ballots where strikes or lockouts are eonteniplated The council discussed the amendment for an hour and a-half this mornin^ with tlie Minister of Labour, ilr. McLagan. The secretarv of the federation, Mr. K. McL. Baxter, reported subsequently that the council had decided to continue adainant in its objeetion to seclion 8 of the Bill eoncerning strikes and reiterated provious decision to oppose this section for the following n'.'isons: — (1) The council disapproves of tho

introduction of industrial legislation affeeting workers without .prior cousultation with the Federatiop oi Labour. (2). The council considers it is the traditional right of the trade unuii movement to manage its own afl'airs without political interferenee. (3) There is sutiicient legislation ou the statute books in New Zealand giving the G'overnnient all the legal powers necessary to take action against individual strikers or a union without the introduteion of further couflictinji legislation. 1. Mr. Baxter said this policy had been adopted bv 12 votes to 1±.