PLEDGE OF LOYALTY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1060, 24 February 1911, Page 6

PLEDGE OF LOYALTY.

FOR TRADES UNION DELEGATES. A special meeting of tho Wellington Trades anil-Labour Council was held last evening to consider ,a notico of motion by Mr. ,W.' T. Young, secretary of (ho Seamen's Union, that Rulo 8 of the Constitution of tho-Council bo amended by tho addition of tho following:—' "Each and every person before being accepted .as a delegate of any federated union shall sign a pledge of loyalty to the objects of. his union as set- out in its constitution, an dalso a pledge of loyalty to the objects of tho constitution, standing orders, rules, and dtcesions of the council, such pledge to bo approved of by tho council in special meeting assembled. Any person declining to sign" tho said ;plcdgo shall bo rcjsctcd,; and not admitted as a delegato. Any delegate committing a ' breach of silcli shall bo-expelled ■ from the council, and reported to his union. A bare majority.vote, of the council shall'decide questions involving breaches of loyalty. Further, that tho following pledge, in keeping witlr tho altered rule, be incorporated in the rules of the council:— Delegates,pledge of loyalty:— "Prior to being admitted as a ; delegate to tho Wellington Trades and Labour Council, I, the undersigned, hereby pledge myself to loyally adhero to and further tho' ' objects of tho union I represent, as incorporated in tho constitution ;; alsS, to loyally adhere to ' nnd further the objects of the council as incorporated in the constitution; to ■ abide by its rules, ' standing orders, and.decisions, and . not to divulge its business to tho press,, or any person not connected with tho, council; and to retire from delegateship on tho council - if it be held that a breach of my pledge-has been committed." The meeting was very largely attended, a record gathering of 53 being present. Mr. E. J. Carey, president of the council, was in-the chnir. At tho outsot, considerable opposition' was shown to the proposition by a section of the delegates. One delegato questioned tho right of tho chairman to admit tho motion. . , ■ ■ The chairman ruled tha. it was within the province of any delegate,, at any. time by giving notice of motion, to move for tho alteration of any one' or- all the rules of the council.,This ruling was questioned, and, on a division,- wns upheld by 29 votes to 15. Mr. "Young then formally moved in terms of his notico of motion, but another delegate protested' that, the new ■rule was not clearly stated in tho circular. : Tho chairman ruled that the circular notico was a general notice; that it was necessary to specify tho actual Wording of tho new - rule. The proceeding. was quite in order. Once more tho ruling of the chair was disputed, and upon another division it was upheld by 31 votes to 13.' Mr. Young again moved'his proposition, and, stalling to tho 'motion! said that ho regretted the necessity for such, a step as was proposed. He urged, however, that the motion bo adopted, in view of the action of certain delegates, admittedly members of nparty which was for ever denouncing the council and its works, and which,; moreover, was deliberately "out" to further tho interests of a rival federation of labour as against the federation of labour initiated by tho trades'and labour councils of New Zealand. ■ ' " v ; Tho motion was seconded. ■ ■ After some discussion, an amendment to tlio cffect that the proposal be held over for a month'in order to i.fford tho unions an opportunity of considering it. .The amendment was seconded, and a long discussion ensued, lasting till late in tho evening. • Finally, the amendment was put and lost by 26 to 21. Mr. Young's motion was carried by 28 to 19, amid applause..