FOXTON AND THE WATERSIDE FEDERATION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1504, 29 July 1912, Page 6

FOXTON AND THE WATERSIDE FEDERATION.

4 (To tho Editor.) Sir,—Flenso allow me spaco in youi columns in which to refute a false im pression which has been published, in re sard to the action of the federation o Labour in connection with tho Voxtai Waterside Union. For the benefit of Mr Jl'Kay, tho secretary of that nioiibmn society styling itself the AVaterside Fed eratiou of New Zealand,. I would remim him that we took his advice, and regis tered under tho Trades Union Act, whirl wo understand was in defiance of theii principle of the Arbitration and Concilia Hon Act, so dearly loved of tho capitnlis tic employer. The question of afliliatior was not touched upon by the union til February, when a ballot was taken nftei both sides of the questions had been fulh discussed. The result was in favour o'l the Federation of labour. Now. Sir surely, we can be qiven credit for liavinp a little sense. We affiliated on our. owr as n body, not at the dictates of anybody, as Mr. M'Kay seeks to imply. Wi recognised the fact that we had to chocst between the different federations, so.thr union came to the cnnclusinn that a real live federation which has the interest* nl the workers individually niul collectively at heart was the one to affiliab witli. hence our action. As the secretary ol the Waterside Federation has taken upon himself to east aspersions on the union here, he must remember that the union cave him no croumTs for his statement tr his federation, as we offered In pay hi; expenses, which he declined with thanks To conclusion I ninv state that we do not allow any wirc-nnllinp in the Rovernins of (he Fnxlon .Waterside Union.—l am,', etc., T.. G. .VATJTIN, Secretary. Fo.iton, July 2-5, lfl!°.