DRIVERS SECEDE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 April 1926, Page 4

DRIVERS SECEDE

A I.LI A N'CE OF LA 80l R WEEING TON. April 28. Tli,. Sew Zealand Drivers’ Federation decided ill the recent annual conference of the Federation, to secede from the Alliance of Labour. It is -.tilled that the decision was made by ii maiority of one vote, and that a bidlot of the members ol the federation is jo he liiken mi ilm question of accepting or rejecting the action of their represent aiives ill the cnnlercme. Ihe Drivers’ Federation has about 2100 members. In the absence of definite informal inn as to why the drivers have i Ipixen to 111-oak away from the Alliance. with which they have affiliated practically since the inception of that body, the secretary of the Alliance (Mr J. Roberts! writing to the New.. Zealand “Worker.” n.s that it is due to tl'it ‘m l that the Alliance supported Mr A. 1.1 Alontieth against Mr ' Hunter in the recent election of worker'' representative on the Arbitration Conn. The drivers throughout New Zealand unanimously supported MiHunter. and Mr Roberts says that possibly some members, who were Mr Hunter's most staunch supporters, are attempting to avenge themselves for his defeat by inducing tin* drivers to secede from the nation d organisation of Labour in New Zealand. He states that although the delegates to the animal conference carried a resolution to secede from the 'Alliance, the advocates of the secession policy did not allow- a representative of the Alliance to discuss the matter with them. ‘Mu other words.” said Mr Roberts, “some of the delegates made only personal attacks behind the hacks of men associated with the Alliance of l.nlmur—a very safe thing to do when those officials were absent."

Commenting on (lie balled proposed. All- Roberts said that to submit a r|iie.stion by ballot which had already been decided hy the delegates was one of the methods l.abour could not approve of. It was undemocratic, for the reason that the delegates had prejudiced the ease by hist passing a resolution. If the question was to he submitted to the drivers, it should he submitted plainly and definitely, without prejudicing the case one way or the other ladore the ballot was taken.