STORMY CONFERENCE

Chronicle (Levin), 18 May 1949, Page 5

STORMY CONFERENCE

°ress Association)

Labour Federation Officials tfeaiienged

(Par 1

W TjLLIJN (_r 1 0 A , May 17. The normal quiet of the usual lormal Qpening of the annuai Labour was shattered by stormy eonference of the Federation oi scenes today when disruptive elements cha-llenged officials of the federation on the score of tlie Auckland carpenters' dispute. This controversial issue brougln the remainder of the business oi the twelfth annuai conferenee to a standstill and was of suffieient national importance to bring the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, and the Minister of Labour, Mr. MeLagan, from the caucus of the Parliainentary Labour Party bemg held at Parliament Buildings The disaft'ected elements within the federation took the earliest possible opportunity to stage a trial of strength with the major ny of the more moderate dele gates. They seized on portions oi" the annuai report of the retiring president, Mr. Croskery, particularly those proposing to give power to the national executive to suspend any union failing to abide by majority decisions. Unfortunately for the militants. their well laid plans met little success. If voting on the many amendments moved today is any indication,. they are in for a rough

time at the hands of the more moderate faction before this conferenee is over. A heated debate on the Auckland carpenters' dispute occupieu practically all the time of the conferenee today. There were stormy scenes this morning when waterside workers' delegates and a representative of the deregisterec section of the Carpenters' Union accused executive officers of flouting the constitution. One speaker, Mr. T. Iiill, national secretary oi' the watersiders, was shouted down and was refused an extension of time. After the luncheon adjournment things settled down to a more ordered eourse when Mr. Croskery read a legal opinion stating that as the carpenters' injnnction was due to be heard in the Supreme Court, Wellington, on Friday, the whole matter wassnb jndice. Thereupon the conferenee went into committee. It was learned that most of the I afternoon was spent hearing the national secretary of the federaation, Mr. K. McL. Baxter, who. spoke for 65 minutes, and the national secretary of the Carpenters' Union, Mr. R. Stanley, of Auckland, who spoke ten minutes longer.

The Prime Minister and Minister of Labour were present for most of the afternoon. Mr. McLagan commeneed speaking 20 minutes before the adjournment and wili continue tomorrow. It is learned that Mr. Fraser also wili address the eonference tomorrow on the carpenters' dispute and the whole industrial setup but little is expected for publieation. The carpenters' dispute and proposed suspension of the Waterside Workers' Union is expected to occupy practically all tomorrow although the election of officers may be squeezed in. The press is not being admitted to the eonference with the exception of a- representative of the Labour Party weekly organ. Other pressmen have to be eontent to aceept a precis of .tlie discussions from a liaison . officer appointed by the eonference. After the lengthy business of checking credentials had been carried out this morning, the conferenee opened with Mr. Croskery reading his annuai report.' The stormy scenes developed as soon ' as Mr. Croskery finished reading ; his reporti