WORK AND WAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 198, 10 January 1913, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES.

A MAMMOTH BODY. Now that the ballot on the question of the proposed amalgamation of' the Australian Workers' Cnion—the largest organisation of labor in the Commonwealth—and a number of other country unions lias been carried by a very substantial majority, it is proposed (says the Sydney Morning Herald of December 30) to p'iace before the "amalgamation conference" to be opened in Sydney on Monday next resolutions of a farreaching character. The whole scope of the A.W.U. will be changed. Instead of dealing with "any person engaged in pastoral work," the scheme proposes to take in any bona fide worker engaged in any of the following industries or callings:—Pastoral, agricultural, horticultural, viticultural, fruit-growing, Sugargrowing, cane-cutting, milling and refining, rabbit-trapping, carrying, road-mak-ing, and all kinds of general labor. A definition of "bona fide" states that it means "any male or female employed at manual or mental labor." But the term doe* not include the actual employer of more than two persons. By the authority of the "convention" (which is to take the place of the word branches may be established, which shal', have control of the industrial sections and district committees within their boundaries. The boundaries of branches are to be defined by the convention. Any number of industrial sections maybe constituted a branch. Branches may be grouped in such manner as the convention may decide. On demand of any two branches of a group, it is to be provided that the executive shall permit of a. group conference being held at such time and place as the Executive Council may decide. Tt is proposed that the group conference shall be constituted as follows:—"The president and general secretary of the union delegates ejected by the branches forming the group. Each 'branch shall be entitled to two delegates for any number of members up to one thousand, and as additional delegate for every further one thousand members or part thereof, but no branch shall be entitled to more than four delegates. Not more than one fully-paid official from each branch shall be eiigftle to act as delegate. Delegates 'shall be paid by their respective branches such sum as fares and allowances as may be fixed by the convention. Group conferences shall have power to deal with all matters of local concern to the members of their branches, but sha'd not have power to —-(a) Make, amend, or rescind any of the rules of the union; or (b) decide upon any line of policy or matter contrary to the decisions of the conven tion or Executive Council."