THE LABOURPARTY

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 872, 19 July 1910, Page 5

THE LABOURPARTY

CONFERENCE AT AUCKLAND. ATTITUDE OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. "FAR FROM ENCOURAGING." , JUDGE SIM'S ATTITUDE: A PROTEST. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, July 18. The annual conference of the Trades and Labour Councils of New Zealand was commenced to-day. Delegates from various parts of the Dominion were pre- ■ sent as follows :— Auckland: Messrs. J. Savage, T. Walsh, H. L. Horning, and IV. S. iloxam. Wellington: Messrs. E. J. Carey, W. C. Noot, P. L. Muir, aud J. Hutchin. Christchurch: Messrs. G. R. Whiting, J. Young, D. (j. Sullivan, and E. .J. . Howard. Otago: Mr. R. Breen, and the Hon. W. " T. Paul. Southland: Messrs. T. O'Byrne, and J. Alexander. South Canterbury: Mr. J. Reader. Tho Mayor (Mr. L. J. BagnalL) welcomed the delegates to Auckland. . Mr. Horning was voted to the chair for; the election of conference officials. Mr. Whiting was v elected chairman, the other candidates being Messrs. Moot and Savage. Mr. Young was elected secretary. When Mr. Gilbert extended a hearty welcome to the visiting delegates on behalf of 'the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Labour party, Mr. Breen (Otago) asked for information as to what this "New Zealand Labour party" was. Nothing was known of it in Otago, and tho only Labour party recognised there was the Political Labour League. The. chairman stated that the forma- : tion of the New Zealand Labour party was the outcome of the series of addresses by Mr. A. W. Hogg, M.P., after severing his connection with the Ministry. Mr. Howard (Christchurch): Then il the original Labour party called into existence by tho Trades and Labour ;• Council dead? The Proposed New Party. At a later stage the report of the executive ,was presented, in which the conference was informed that in connection with the proposed new party a number of members "of Parliament had/, been approached for their opinions, .but the rooiies received were. far from encouraging.' The executive therefore" strongly recommended the formation Qt' a Labour" party from without Parliamentary circles- as the only possible solution of the question. , There was some discussion as .to whether tho conference by adopting the report would exclude members of Parliament from the party when formed, and in order to guard against. such an eventuality the clause in question was slightly amended. . • ' The Hon. J. T. Paul (Otago) stated that members of Parliament had been approached in such an indefinite manner that affirmative answers were not to be' expected even from those wjiose. sympathies wero in 'favour of the "formation of an independent Labour party. , . Delegates were divided in opinion as to whether the conference should ; proceed with or postpone to a later . stage consideration of a platform tor the suggested party as drafted'by the executive. Upon a division of 10 to 6, however, it was , decided to proceed. ■ Mr. Howard protested against dealing with the programme, on the ground that it was nothing more or less than the programme contained in a pamphlet signed and issued by Mr. M'Bride, of Christchurch. The Canterbury Union' strenuously opposed its adoption, contending that it contrasted most unfavourably with a businesslike platform of three straight-out planks sent up by the Canterbury Council. He moved that con-. sideration first be given- to tho question as to what clauses should 1 comprise the party. J'bo motion was negatived, and the conference proceeded to' deal with the' clauses of the programme seriatim. Tho proposed name was the- "Progressive Labour\Party." Mr. Noot (Wellington) moved as an amendment "The Independent Political Labour Party." Tlje amendment was lost. Upon the motion of Mr. Breen (Otago) it was decided that tho Tiamo .bo the New Zealand Labour Party. A Critical Conference. At this stago discussion was postponed until to-morrow. The chairman extended a welcome to Mr. J. F. Arnold, Labour M.P. for Dunedin. Mr. Arnold, iu thanking tho conference for its invitation, exuressod the belief that this was the most critical conference which had been held for years past. Some years ago there were six direct Labour members iu the House of Representatives, but to-day it was said that there was only one. If this was so. it did not speak very well for the progress of the : Labour party in New Zealand, even though tho extent of their influence coulii not be measured by the number of Labour M.P.'s. He thought that tho success of the Labour pai-tv for e-oiua years to come depended on the. deliberar tions of this coherence. (Hear, .hear.) The Annual Report.. In presenting their annual report, tho executive stated that the most important , feature of ti:e p;.t.-i year's work was the, appointment -,ot an . organiser lor the furtherance of the federation of labour. Finance appeared to-be the luain trouble, and much valuable time was lost in trying to find a solution of the difficulty until the executive ielt that another futile effort was to bo the reward. Mr. D. M'Laien, coining to tho assistance of the executive, however, solved• the financial trouble, and took up the work of organiser without remuneration. Tho councils and unions were ' addressed and circularised throughout the Dominion, with the gratifying result that up to the present 73 unions, eight councils, ana three federations had intimated their de-. sire to join the federation. This body, representing organised Labour, had intimated their desire to join the federation. The trades councils of Australia were approached by the executive with a -viow to drawing Labour more closely together in the two countries. The replies l Were most cordial, and an invitation was extended to tho executive to attend the New South Wales Trades Congress, but unfortunately the invitation could not . be accepted. I" regard to a New Zealand brand, the executive took steps to obtain the assistance of the various trades ill the Dominion concerning the method most suitable to recommend to the Minister. The Ironmasters' Association were also approached,'and heads of other industries, but tho result was most disheartening, only three replies being returned, viz., Bootmakers' Federation, Auckland Rattan and Wicker Workers, and tho Auckland Tailors' Union. Under the circumstances the executive were unable to complete the recommendation, although conyinced that the same was of vital importance to local industry. The executive, in pursuance of instructions, submitted the names of Mr. E. Howard nnd Mr. Godfrey Powell to further represent the Dominion on the All-British Conference.' The majorit;- favoured Mr. E. Howard, who was supposed to be going to Britain. Mr. .Howard did not go, and the executive, failing a definite knowledge of the questions. to be submitted to the said conference, were adverse to taking steps in the dark. The financial statement showed the year's receipts to have been ,£55 14s. 3d., and the expenditure .£lB 65., leaving a balance in the bank of <£17 Ss. 3d. The report aud balance-sheet were adopted. Judge Sim. A telegram was received - from the unions affiliated in Christchurch asking the conference to call an indignation, meeting for the purposo of protesting . against the action of Judge Sim in the shearers' dispute. After discussion, a resolution moved by Mr. Sullivan was carried as follows:— "That this conference protests against the discourteous attitude adopted by Mr. Justice Sim towards the representatives of tho men ill the recent shearers' dispute at Christchurch-"