LABOUR CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1106, 20 April 1911, Page 2

LABOUR CONFERENCE.

A DISGUSTED DELEGATE. (By Tclecranh-Prcss Association.) Ghristchurch, April 19, The Trades and Labour C'oul'ereiice re Eiimcrl to-day. The president was requested to confer with llr. Weljl), president cf the Minors' J'cueriitioii of Labour, ns to a conference J|>r the purpose of considering amalgamsion. It was decided that tho conference »P represented at tho conference of the New Zealand Labour Party, and Messrs. Kwirdon, Paul, and Horning wc-ru appointed a deputation to wait ott that conlirencc. A lengthy discussion ensued on u remit proposinc that the constitution be nmondto f l r o provide Hint the objective should '." socialisation of the means of production, distribution, nnd exchange/' As ?,!L amendment Mr. M'Laren moved: J-.nat the general objcoHve of the Federation should lie public ownership of the menus of production, distribution, nnii "eliaiißo by means of democratic reforms nf h n iV l in the inlercsta ol tho collective body of people." This was weed to by IS votes to 6. A further «" C f ii mcnt ,m ns P''oPofwl by Mr. Breen, ?,( T m !'- : ~T o maintain upon the StatL c B 0 °k a " progressive legislation that as. already been enacted, m,d to insist upon its sympathetic, and proper atlminlslration, to ™a c t comprehensive measure, and establish such conditions as will foslrr and ensure.-equality of opportunity also the moral, material, and eluciitionnl advancement and general comfort and we .being, of the whole people, based upon the gradual public ownership of nil mear.ii of production, distribution, and exchange." . This was agreed to liy 11 to ?, but vliea s ,'^ l as a «»'>stanlive motion, Mr. W. 1. Yomiß contended that Mr. Breen's proposal was no objective at all. It was a. string of inconsequential objects of a wishy-washy character. lie complained that he had been trapped by the Wellington and Dunedin delegates. The procedure followed was disgusting, and was of h sorr ihit drove men out of (ho movement. He would move a further amendment: "That (he three proposals which had been submitted to the conference l>o referred to a plebiscite of tho unions." Mr. Horning seconded this. Mr. WhititiK raised n point of order, Him. Mv. loimg's amendment was out of order. The chairman upheld this objection. Mr. Brccn's motion was carried on the voices. _ Mr. Tounß then pave notice ot motion in tho term?; of hh ninriulmeiit. ■ lho president (Mr. Rwirdon) lcported that he had conferred with Mr. Webb, who reported that ho was unable (o pet members of tho Miners' Federation to Chnstcliiircli in le?s than a week's time. The best he could do was to consult members of the executive on the Coast, and tPlesT.iph the best siiffiostion they could make regarding the proposed conference. A remit pronosim; the deletion from the constitution of a ctawo dealing with politienl action was agreed to. Tho incomine executive was instructed to apply for registration of the Federation under the Unclassified Societies Art. Tho conference congratulated tho Wellington Trades Council on wcuring a poll on tho Saturday half-hoHday proposal, and wished success to tlm movement Tho conference adjourned till to-mor-row.