TOO MUCH SOCIALISM.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 556, 10 July 1909, Page 4

TOO MUCH SOCIALISM.

TRADES COUNCILS AND POLITICS. THREATS OF SECESSION. (By Telegraph.-frees Association.)' \ V Chrlstohuroh, July 9. s - Thord aro strong 'indications of revolt ion the part, of toiM of the unions against the amount of attention that tlio; Socialistic propaganda' receives from the >-Trades and . Labour Council. , ; ■ ;''Too much: politics and too littlo useful work," ; is : tho complaint laid • against tho council .'by. the CoacWorkersV Union, which has been discussing, the advisability of eo» bbdi^'-Jto--tt^cqnijc|li^KAt-.the; meeting, called to consider the matter, memboi's _ur . the -unfoni 'idis satisfaction witK.tho -way, iff .jvhich the, business of tho cptiiicil is being conducted!, . •Until the various ;umons liad cqUitli representation -'oil tl» 'council, ■it was "stated that' nothing-, better: eouiil'bo laboUr.uhiond having i'largo'membership «voro•!entitled),to certain". number 1 ofdelegates; ■ most; of -jvhom belonged to tho . Political League, andtho. consequence Vas that, tho. 'trades i ( . unions had to itake ;a ■ baoß . seat, i It; Waa decidod to : ask ; all tho trades; unions to-ap. poitit/delegates , to' a conferenfce ; to; discuss the best'meaiis fif improving, the position. ■ Mfimbers of unions, Vho 1 were seen ,by a reporter,' slated that the piouiinpiiee given ; t« : discussions!of apolitical matters, 'and the preponderance of the Socialistic, element, had led -to'several unionsraffiliated to the coun. cil expressing; dissatisfaction, and moro: than oilo had threatened secession. :: ; .i ■

One prominent member of a, trades: union 'said] that the- ordinary; business 'Ma frequent-, • ly/ifet aside-to::allow; political disoussiofcs of ;o - Socialistic; character. ;.''Wo\ want ; mora GipitabW' representation and less. Socialistio talk," ha Said. . v "Tho jpeoplowiflnot stand thbse rabid Socialists, and Jou; cannot blamo them. ' They talk too much at -tho council \ : meetings,; and waato time. 'Wo want to. b«. able • to. do ,ordinary' business that, is of importance-: to' tho' unions) and'riot' talk about - Sdoialista that can'do no good." t ' : *,Ajiother;unionist," who had bsen in, Auckland recently, said that:, there, the.'sani* trouble had been ; experienced.,, Tho.coun-, oil was "dominated by the . delegates of largo •ijmons; and ; tob;inuoh' 'tmie' ttas Wasted' on political discussions,'; maxters'/.bropght forward; by the trader unions being often shelved. _■ Soveral of the unions had sceeded, and moro were talking about it.. . ■■ 1 _ ; Mr. A. D. ■ Hart, president of. tho council, interviewed in regard to the suggested socessiorti' said the : constitution provided that ' no political matters Bhould bp discussed, but ■ the council'was '■ e&ger : for 1 political, reform, and. he contended that-the council could do nothing nlso for tho benefit of the workers within! introducing A coinmitteo , had- been set;up with' a' view to altering the constitution, and ho believed that in tho :near future the'courioil woiMform itself into, more of a political organisation than 1 an m- • dustrial association.' Studying the industrial aspect was not going .to benefit: the workers,. nearly as-tnuch as studying the political asiSect, for' in political action they could get- ~ reforms carried,' through presenting a determined frpnt to thojGovernment and tho people. Tho majority if the'council wns anxious' for a straight-out Lobour party in tho future. It must Iw. a fighting , force: to' secure tho rights which the workers wore denied now.