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p. 32 · Read in the full issue
Political Factions in New Zealand Still Squabble Over Cook Is. Affairs
ATTEMPTS by the New Zealand Lahour Government to introduce industrial organisation to Cook Islands’ native workers, are not having a smooth passage.
Now, after three separate missions of inquiry one by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Prime Minister, and a third by representatives of the New Zealand Federation of Labour the issue shows signs of being reduced to a clear clash between the Socialist leaders of the Dominion’s industrial organisation, and the near-Communist Auckland Generad Labourers’ Union which has taken an uninvited part in the proceedings.
Developments preceding the departure of the Federation of Labour delegation, to the Cooks, also the result of that delegation, have been reported in previous issues of the “PIM.” The two representatives were Mr. T. F. Anderson, secretary of the Auckland branch of the Auckland Seamman’s Union and Mr K. Baxter, secretary of the federation. uuatp to oconservative
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Progressive Association which, according to reports in Auckland, has no real entitv outside the Auckland trades union gr o U p Spokesmen of both organisations were prompt to express their views—not in open criticism but in a demand that the Labourers’ Union secretary, Mr. T. Potter and the Progressive Association secretary, Mr. A. Henry, should both accompany the party to Rarotonga.
The Government, forced into belated and unwilling recognition of the Pro gressive Association, countered this pro posal by announcing that a representative would be welcomed, but only if he were an Islander and not a European. This made provision for Mr. Henry, but not for Mr. Potter. , It was not an acceptable plan for the ambitious Auckland group. As reported in August “PIM,” neither Mr. Henry nor Mr. Potter went. And in declining the offer they indicated that a delegation without them would be cold-shouldered by members of the Progressive Association —claimed to be 3,ooo—in the Islands.
On their return from Rarotonga, Mr.
Baxter anc *. M. r - Anderson reported success in them mission to negotiate new wages scales £ or the .wp rker s- The new which began with an increase of 1/- (to 6/-) per day for unskilled labour, were, they said, approved by the Government.
The workers were very pleased with the outcome and were forming a union which would, be registered to enuble them to take of the machinery pro vided for the orderly settlement of future disputes.
The delegates referred the fact that their task had been made difficult because the Cook Islands Progressive Association headquarters at Auckland had sent a message to its Rarotonga branch expressing lack of confidence in the
representatives.
However, no real reference to the clash for the industrial control of the island workers was made until several weeks
after the return of Anderson and Baxter when on August 12, the delegates made a report in which they said; “There is no doubt in our minds that some delegates of the Federation of Labour conference, while expressing verbal loyalty to its decisions, give real allegiance to the policy and programme of the Communist Party. In our opinion the policy pursued by Auckland head quarters of the Cook Islands Progressive Association is influenced by a programme and propaganda from other sources. That programme and policy are not in accord ance with the Federation of Labour’s conception of trade unionism in the Cook Islands.”
The delegates stated that the result of their visit to the Islands was that the workers passed a resolution in favour of applying for the formation and registra tion of an industrial union. Referring to a fee of 1/6, which was stated to have been paid by Rarotongan workers for membership cards of the Auckland Labourers’ Union, they added: “So far as we are aware, the secretary of the union Mr. Potter, has never informed the Auck land Trades Council that he was en rolling workers at Rarotonga into his union. His action in so doing appears to call for an explanation.”
Editorial Note
IN reply later to the Federation of Labour delegates, Mr. Potter denied that workers at Rarotonga had paid 1/6 each for membership cards to the Labourers’ Union—that, on the contrary, they had been issued free. Mr. Henry said that he had wanted to go to Raro tonga but he had honoured the Associa tion’s wish that he should not go without Mr. Potter. “I was not to gotdn any case as an equal,” he added, “but as an interpreter.”