"IN THINGS ESSENTIAL UNITY."

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 44, 12 January 1912, Page 15

"IN THINGS ESSENTIAL UNITY."

Preamble.

.We hold that all men arc created to ho free, and should havo equal access and opportunity to tho enjoyment of all benefits to be derived from their exertions in dealing with the natural resources of the earth, and that free access and equal opportunity thereto are absolutely necessary to man's existence and tho upward progress of the lunwa race. Through the rapid gathering of wealth and the centreing of the management of industries into fewer and fewer hands, Trades Unions Uro unable to cope with the ever-grow-ing power of tho employing class, because Trades Unions foster a btate of things which allows one tet of workera to be pitted against another set of workers, thereby helping to defeat ttno another in wage wars. Theso 0011----'diticna can be changed and the interests of tho working class upheld only by an organisation formed in such_ a ,»ay that if the necessity arises all its members shall make an injury to one lan injury to all. Therefore we deem ft necessary to organiso aad maintain ihe Now Zealand Federation of Labor. lAmongst our lawful purposes we declare Bore especially our objeots to bo;— RULE 1.-OBJECTS. Clause I.—To create and maintain a land for such purposes, in harmony .with and promotivo of the objects oi Ihia Federation, as Bhall approve themSelves to the Executive Committee fhereoL

('biuse "J.—To improve the tendinous and pietist the Hit i rests ol the niouiberis <d the Fedeiatiiin h.V incrcasm" llie pni]inrtiti|iiit4- share ol ihe weuilli el tin \\erk< is. slioitemng the hours ol iaLur. anil endeavouring to educate t"l' the~, 1,11,1,1, abolition "I the present wiiei- vysn-i,,, ;,nd Ihe substitution el the'ciili'ilimli u'\ He! ship nl tile means ol pl'odllJ lie!!. Clause H.- To Mime en'.|doymcnt ot our members in preference to l>ouuuiniiisls: to maintain ;i s|iirit "! Irat.ernal sympathy I'itn the workers ot this ami oilier'countries by assisting then, t\ lien iieii ssai \ . Chilis*' 4. To use our united efforts to diseourajge ihe- contract labor and bonus system, and as soon as possible to abolish these. bclio\ing the said systems to Ik' detrimental tn the best inleie.sis ot organised labor. Clause .V- To enable and provide for the federal ion fo own, |iublish, and control a weekly newspaper. Clause (.'.--To ensure In members who are proved to have b< unjustly treated the support of ihe Federation.

HULK 11. CONSTITUTION. Clause I.- --This organisation shall by known as the "New Zealand Federation of Labor. ■'■' Clause :'.—ia) The New Zealand Federation of Labor shall be composed of actual \Mme-eariiers, brought togriher in a F« deration of I nions and individual members, providing they subscribe to the |irniciples and objects of this organisation. lb) Individual members shall mean actual wage-workers «ho desire to attach themselves to the N.Z.F.L. until such time as a branch of the y.ud organisation, to which they are eligible, shall be organised in the localty where the individual member may reside. (c) No organisation shall be permitted to join the Federation without first faking a referendum affirming the desirability of joining aforesaid Federation. Clause M. - Federations of Industries and Unions affiliated with the N.Z. F.L. shall have complete industrial antononiv in their respective infernal affairs, providing that the general executive shall have power to control these organisations in matters concerning; the inf+rests of the general welfare. Clause -1 i'aU—Any union of workers or individuals may become affiliated as hereinbefore provided by paving the quarter's ,-onti ibut ions of Is per member in advance.

(b) Federation of unions shad be ad milted on paying the quarter's ooiitri billions of (id* per member in advance Federation of Unions to mean N.Z Federation of Unions.

Clause ii.— Delegates representing a majority of members cmupiising ihe Fedeiat'ion shall constitute a quorum.

Clause 1..— Revenue and Disbursements: The revenue of the Federal ion shall be derived from an annual per capita tax upon every financial member, to be paid by each Union quarterly in advance, and in case of emergency such levies as. in the judgment of the Executive Committee, may be neeessarv. The same shall be based and paid on'the preceding report previous to such levy.

Clause 7.—The annual conference of tho N.Z.F.L. shall be the supreme legislative body of the organisation, and its actions and enactments shall have legal force, unless reversed upon a referendum vote of the whole membership, touching any and all amendments to tho organic law which conference may adopt. A referendum shall only bo taken when in tho opinion of the Executive it is necessary ; or on a requisition, signed by not less than 1000 financial members. Clause B.—Representation in this Federation for all purposes -whatever shall be based upon the dues paid by any Union. Each Union shall be entitled to one •vote for one hundred members or less, and one vote for each additional one hundred or majority fraction thereof, provided no Union shall send mere than three delegates to any conference. Voting on all questions to be by proxy in the same proportion. Clause 9.—Representation at the annual conference shall be based on the January report prior to the holding of the conference, and tho January report of each year shall be an annual report, provided, in case a special conference is held, the representation shall be based on the last report prior to the calling of the special conferenc.". Clause 10. —Delegates from Unions to tho annual conference shall be paid by the Federation on the basis of one delegate for every 375 members or less, two delegates for 370 to 750, above 750 three delegates. Delegates shall be paid 22s Gd per clay, with second-class railroad and first-class steamship fares, to and from the seat of conferenceDelegates from Federation of Unions shall bo paid on the basis of one delegate for (50 members or less, two delegates from 750 to .5011, ever 15G0 tlrce d ek-gates. Clause 11.—The Federation may be dissolved by a 4-5 (four-fifths) majority of the members voting by ballot in favor of such dissolution. Clause 12.—Alteration of Rules: No new rules shall bo made, rcr shall any of the rules herein contained bo amended, altered, or rescinded, unless a notice to that effect be given to tho secretary, bigned by the proposer and seconder, distinctly (dating such alteration or new rule, at tho conclusion of tho first day of the annual conference, when tho delegates present at the following sitting shall decide the samo. All alterations, amendments, or new rules shfcJl be submitted to the llogisitar of Friendly. Sockitie»i