LABOUR CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 647, 26 October 1909, Page 6

LABOUR CONFERENCE.

~-"•• .: ■—- », ; .. :.-■--.■ '.f.;iivi:s : ,i-j.-'--i~i:.--..:.c, -,'.■.-.••;:.■:-.■ :o ':-.:!; v'- -y.-xWi',-: i''.-.. ;.• ■;■; .' ..,-:-..<;> 'FIRST- .;,, lvr ,.-r yy.' ";] "COMING. IMPEEIAL CONGRESS;';;.!;. .The; annual conference of tho Trades .(Vand. Labour Councils of ,New; Zealand opened.yes-, terday at the-Druids'- Hall,-and'is, expected 'to last throughout the week...-, The following-are ;the delegates:—Wellington: '"-Messrs.'. ~W.: , ; C. Noot, D; M.P., E.V.J.'". Carey,. . Vf. Naughton; F. Eeyling, A. H. Cooper/ W. TV .Young. Canterbury: Messrs. A. Hart,: E. Howard, H. E. Eusbridge, J;-Barr,'Jl.L.C., Gi E, Whiting, F. 1 Cooke, I). ;G.V Sullivan, ;D. K.*Pritchard, P. F. Darcy. Otago: .Messrs. E. Breen, J.. Brown; W; H. Warren, G.Westwood.- Auckland: Messrs. T. Long, W. S. Moxsom, H. Horning. Southland: Messrs.- T, O'Byrne.J. Alsweiler.: Westland: Mr; J.' Jackson.:. East Coast:, Mr. E.'Hall.Y ' Messrs/Hart and Hall were ..granted. leave of absence for Monday, Mr. Toung for Tuesday'-.and Wednesday,' and Mr. M'Laren to attend the sittings.of .Parliament at his discretion.', '■'.'■■ '•.'■'■

..■■.,■•.','.'■•■'/'. Report of Executive, ['■•[ ";\> ;■' . Mr., Naughton, as.'the senior Wellington delegate, welcomed- the representatives \ from other centres, and read the report of the executive, .which^stated ; that 'a scheme, for.a- federa.tion of. labour, drawn up aui approved by: conwas submitted to ..the whole; of; the unions' in the Dominion, and to the affiliated councils. .Only.• about thirty .replies;were : received; of these''; nineteen ; were -favourable, three adverse,, and 'the remainder non-commit-tal. . iThe executive,- in', view' of ;■ the response,, did not feel justified in proceeding further with the proposal. The Otago Council, had forwarded 'a .remits oh. the. question, of. a ■ federation'•■ of, labour, and the conference: would .again'be required ,tb' debate the scheme.., The question-of the jurisdiction or the Arbitration Court over corporate and local .bodies was .raised in Dun.edin some: time : back.'- A case was;stated for' the Appeal Court, and the. executive.decided to engage- counsel to' argue the matter "from the standpoint of the unions. The, Appeal Court decided, in favour,of the unions.'.-.uhernploymfeht and "defence were perhaps ~the two', 'most important' items for the conference this year. .... The 'financial statement for the year. .1908.-9 showed that-the receipts" we're ~£ll2 35.-3d.; and exceeded the expenditure by JKIS 13s. 5d., and that the' balance of assets over,liabilities was £45 lis.' 3d.' ■ '.' ' ■■• ~:.,' ' •,''...'./.vV-'-Mr. R..Breen (Otago)' was ..elected ..president of the conference, and Mr. A. Hi Cooper (Wellington) V secretary.','' -It - was": resolved ;■ to:'' admit 'the public and tho : press to"the sittings.'....,.;:

:';; All-British- Labour Conference,;.':: i■;".'■ -Mr.'j. Ramsay Macdonald, M:P., secretary of •the British Labour; party, .transmitted a resolution, in favour of holding an All-British Socialist and Labour ; Conference. in 1910, and wrote asking if New Zealand would be represented.'' -~ :• ... .',:"..••■ •. ■; '.' The conference heartily, endorsed the., pro? posal,- and appointed Mr. J. Thorn (who. lad 'written, offering ■ his 'sorricesV to .act as, New Zealand delegate. ■• ■:''.--;-■ '-~.'. '■■~• The conference adjourned until ~ 9.30.... this■moruing.,:.:. :;: ; / '"\. '■ -' ; ■.- !■ :■.",■•'.-/.:.'■,■.■,'■. .''■