LABOUR FEDERATION AND WATERSIDERS

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5289, 30 December 1946, Page 5

LABOUR FEDERATION AND WATERSIDERS

POSITION DEFINED NO GUARANTEE CAN BE GIVEN x UNION

WELLINGTON, Last Night. Repeated Press statements concerning the attitude of the New Zealand Federation of Labour in the waterfront dispute leave the Federation no alterrative other than to take this, opportunity of acquainting all trade unionists as to its attitude, stated the Secretary of the Federation, Mr. K. Bax- * ter, to-day. "We have sought to avoid publicity at this stage of the dispute, but statements that have been published make it neeessary for the Federation to state just where it stands. The following letter from the National Executive of the Federation of Labour to the National Executive of the Waterside Workers' Union shows clearly the Federation's viewpoint. The letter reads: — " 'Thc executive of the New Zealand Federation of Labour has discussed your executive's proposals that the Federation should give its full support to your union's claims in the present dispute and that consideration of receiving such support from the Federation, your executive '.will recommend members of your union to resume normal work and to continue such woih, provided full satisfaction is obtained for yorr union's claims. " My executive has instructed me to reply as f ollows : ' As you are aware the Waterfront Industry Commission has been established to deal with all claims concerning wages and conditions of employment of waterside workers. We understand your union's claims have already been referred to the Waterfront Industry Commission. "It would appear that your executive is asking the Federation of Babour to give 3 guarantee beforehand as to what will be the decision of the Waterfront Industry Cominission on your claims. "Neither the Federation nor any other industrial organisation can give any such guarantee. The Waterfront Industry Commission on which your *nion has two representatives, is the judicial body which presumably makes its \jecisions on the merits of the cases placed before it, and it is not possible for the Federation of Labour to have any prior knowled^y of what its decisions will be. What the Federation will and can guran--tee, how.ever, is to place your union's -ase before the Waterfront Industry Commission as effectively as possible, and thus ensure that " everything- is donc to persuade the Commission to give a favourable decision.' "