LABOUR'S DIVISIONS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 651, 30 October 1909, Page 6

LABOUR'S DIVISIONS.

COUNCIL AND CONFERENCE. DELEGATE COMPLAINS OF INSULT. long been known that the Wellington iTades and Labour Council was not altogether a happy family. When tho meetings were open to tno.press, much of tho timo was occupied in -tho pastime known as washing dirty linen, but it seems that the privacy in which tho meetings have been hcloVduring tho last few months has not always been accompanied by peace. _ The appointment of. delegates to iepresent the council at the conference now being held is. the latest occasion of quarrelling; it appears that the Council originally elected seven delegates m proper form and order, but dnnng the.interval before the conference met one oi.cnem lost his membership.in tho council through not being re-elected by his council, and another resigned. The council's executive, therefore,-.took action to socuxo that the council should have its full share-of representation, and -with that object authorised' Messrs. W. Naughton and'E. Reyling to attend the con- I ference as 'dolegates. These two gentlemen accordingly took their seats and joined in the discussions. On Thursday night,. however, at the regular! meeting of tho Wellington' Trades Council, the matter was brought up. The meeting was; held, as usual, in camera, but it has transpired that the debate was a stormy one; It ended by the passing of a vote of noconhdence in the executive. This was moved' by Mr. Williams (Moulders' Union), and was earned by 21 votes; to 16. , .'.-•' ,1 conference met yesterday morning, Sir. Naughton asked for leave to make an ex-planahon-in, regard to the representation of' we Wellington Council at the conference.. v . The conference went into, committee to hear explanations by .Messrs. Naughton and Eeyling. On the conference resuming, it was reported that the following resolution had been unanimously earned:—"That the conference expresses its regret, in. the. best interests of Labour at the internal difficulties of the Wellington Council, as revealed by tho explanation. of conference delegates, and trusts that these difficulties will be ov/a-come as rapidly as possible. We further request that all delegates whoso credentials have been received to this conference continue to act until 'the close of proceedings. >. ' _ Mr. Naughton explained that he had attended that morning, for the purpose.of stating his position and'then retiring, but the resolution having been unanimously carried, he would accede to the wishes of his co-delegate's , and continue to act ■ (Hear, hear.) His only object m participating in the Labour movement was to endeavour to assist in ■ improving existing conditions. He, had felt hurt .that; after he had given so many years of his-life to .the workers,-, he should have teen insulted in the way he had ,by a-small majority of malcontents, who had rallied together for that very,purpose. Messrs. Naughton and 'Eeyling remained in their : places, ; 'and . the conference .turned ,to other; business.' ':'.■..!■. ■•''.-. Mr. Howard (Canterbury),: alluding to the matter - a: little ■ later, said • it seemed to him that 'the- division in the Wellington; Council seemed to be chiefly on the question of compulsory military training.- ■.' < -.<...