Labour President Warns Left-Wing

Chronicle (Levin), 18 May 1949, Page 6

Labour President Warns Left-Wing

WELLINGTON, May 17. - The watersiders are not the only trade union which may be cut adrii't from its parent body, the Federation of Labonr. In his address at tne opening of the 12th annual conference of the federation today, the retiring president, Mr. A. W. Croskery, said that any violating of the majority decisions made by the annual conferences or dis'ruption of the federation would, in future, mean isolation for the disrupters. "When this conference has given directions as to the course to be f ollowed for the next 12 months or longer, it will be the purpose of the national oxecutive to see that majority decisions shall be abided by and accepted, " said 3Mr. Croskerv. "If, in future, any afiiliation violates the policv laid down by the supreme body of. the federation, tlie national executive will break dif relations with the ofiicials of the ofl'ending union, and will recommend to tne annual conference the suspension of . ueh afiiliation." (Last weelc it was announced that the national executive of the federation would recommend to this conference the suspension of the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Union. The grounds of the complaint were an allegedly insulting letter.) " Unfortunateiy, it appears that some xf our afliliations see iit to give lip ervice to the majority decisions of the annual conferences, but wheu these clo not suit their partieular purpose they take steps to floxit them and the policv - aid down by conferences," added Mr. h'oskery. " Irresponsible vvords and .indisciplined aetions can have no other dfect tluin to undermine the federaion, which has been built up after , ,-ears oi' thought and el'fort. The national executive has done, and will (lo, xli possible to see that the federation .vhich is serving us so well shall not 1 oe sacrificed, We aslc for, and rightiy •xpect, the fullest support and loyalty ;o that end." Mr. Croskery quoted the eonstitution if the federation, which lays it down hat the annual conference is the head iiithority. He recalled that at ti.e umual conference in Dunedin last year, he had said that the .federation wou.d oppose any action creating disruption .mu misery in New Zealand. No oue •:iuid say that a warning had not boin given. — ... _r