OF INTEREST TO UNIONISTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 867, 13 July 1910, Page 8

OF INTEREST TO UNIONISTS.

Under tho existing _ law . a union or association of workers cannot change its name, without cancelling its registration. The effect, of. this is that as soon as'' union does so. the award uii-

der which .it- is working becomes of ; no effect' so far as it i* • concerned; at though it is subject to the- award-in the matter or breaches., but can ; receive nobenefit undent, 'Some'time ago Mr. D. M'Laren, M., mad( , ■ representations to have the name of the Wellington Wharf Labourers' Union, changed w , at .1- Waterside porkers. "Union, to bring the title iiito eouformity with that.-of.the -New Zcaland federation of Waterside Workers -Ah; other, unions throughout the Dominion were-in a'similar position, he took special legal advice, on the' point anil.found that 'under the law tie effect of a change in a name tof' a umon. would be. to annul the' award so far as.the-., union,, was .'concerned, although members of- the' union, would si,ill be liable for any breach of the award. - There, is,-it might be pointed' out; provision.' in the Act for-the amalfamatKM of two unions into one body. Mr. M Larch gave notice in the House yesterday to ask - the Minister for Labourif he will-bring down an amendment of the Act to. enable union's to change their titles' without the cancellation- of,th6ir registration faking place/