LABOUR PARTIES.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14970, 18 May 1914, Page 7

LABOUR PARTIES.

INTERVIEW WITH THE HON. J. T. PAUL.

In a brief interview with a representative of "Tho Press" prior to liis departure by the midday express for Dunedin on Saturday, the Hon. J. T. Paul gave some information regarding the new Labour organisation formed in Otago.

Mr Paul said that tho Otago Labpur Council, though at present a purely local organisation, had national aspirations. Tho constitution of the Otago Trades and Labour Council had been amended to enable tho now body to take political as well as industrial action. Already there wero twenty-six unions affiliated to tho Council, whilst there was only one Otago union affiliated to the Social Democratic Party nnd the United Federation of Labour. The < new movement in Otago has been taken up very enthusiastically, and there waa every prospect of something of a substantial character growing out of it. "The reason for it is to be found in the failure of the attempts in tho past to establish a national Labour organisation," added Mr Paul. "These efforts having failed, it was found necessary to save the local Labour position, and the formation of tho Otago Labour Council was considered the best step to be taken to attain that object. In establishing it we have been inspired by tho hope that the day is not far distant when a truly national organisa- ■ tion representative of tho workers will be an accomplished fact. As far as Dunedin is concerned, there ia no possibility of tho Social Democratic - Party or the United Federation of Labour, representing the workers there. The constitution and aims of the new organisation aro generally in harmony with those of the United Labour Party."