UNIONS AND TRADE COUNCILS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9539, 10 July 1909, Page 5

UNIONS AND TRADE COUNCILS.

| A LIVELY DISCUSSION. By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, July 9. At a meeting of the Coachworkers* Union to discuss the advisability of seceding from the Trades and Labour? Council, there was a large attendance, and a lively discussion took place. Members expressed their dissatisfaction with the way in which the business of the Council is being: conducted. They state that business of importancs was placed aside, and the time wasted in political diij; cussion. Until the various unio s had equal representation on the cotncil, nothing better could be expected. The labour unions, having a large membership, were entitled to a certain number of delegates, most of whom belonged to the Politic: 1 1 Labour League, and the co isequence was that the trades unions had to take a back seat. It was finally dicided that the secretary should write to all the trades unions, and asfc them to appoint delegates to a conference to be held at a future date to * discuss the best iqeans of improving the position. Members of the unions who were seen by a reporter stated that the.. inequality of the representation of unions on the Trades and Labour Council, and the prominence <;iven to discussions of political matters, and the preponderance of the Socialistic element, had led to] several unions affiliated to the council expressing dissatisfaction, and more than one had threatened secession. The basis on which representation on the council was fixedjgave a great advantage, numerically to the larger unions, General Labourers' Union j n g right to about sixteen the council, and, mogt Qf e egates of. t h e ] ar g er un ions were members of thQ p olitical La bo Ur d, the other unions had little P r ,wer. About half a dozen unions have within the past two months decided to secede from the council, but the representatives Qf that body have generally managed to get the decison reconsidered, Now, however, there seems t<? b9 more general satisfaction, and an upheaval to labour circles is expected. It is stated on pretty good author if that those in the carpenteriflg trade | '—fi very, large body—are on the evtf • Of seceding. .