THE FEDERATION OF LABOUR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1199, 7 August 1911, Page 8

THE FEDERATION OF LABOUR.

DISCUSSION AT SHEARERS' CONFERENCE. At the Shearers' Conference held in Wellington last week the various matters to be arranged between the Shearers' Association and the Federation of .Labour-(which organisation tile sh.-arers had by ballot taken last shearing season rlccidcd to join) were discussed at length. The matters involved were:—(l) The' representation to be given to tho Shearers' Assiocuition on the Federation Executive; (•2) the representation to be given the Shearers Association on the Newspaper Board controlling the "Jlaorilawl ■ Horkfr"; and (3) the reduction of the contribution ot 2s. per year per member to tho federation from the Shearers* Association to Is. per year per member. The federation delegates said that they bad been authorised to oiler proportion representation on the Federation Executive (two members) and jne seat on the Newspaper Board. They' could not deal with the matter of the reduction of the contribution, as that had to be settled by the democracy of their federation, and not by its officers. It was unanimously agreed that the shearers ask for equal representation on the Newspaper Board and four members on the Executive of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, and that the contribution to the federation from the Shearers' Association be reduced to Is. per year per member.

The federation delegates announced that it bad l-eeu agreed that Hie representation offered to tho shearers should be. increased to three members on the Federation Executive, and two members on the Newspaper Board. This would ho the recommendation of the delegates to tho various unions, and the uniens would be asked to ratify this; they had no doubt at all, however, that the unions would ratify the recommendations, so that the matter could be regarded as virtually settled. As to the reduction of the contribution of 2s. per yrar to Is. per year, they would have to consult the unions in the federation, and be guided by the mini? of tho majority; it would take about three weeks to obtain this decision, and it would . then be communicated to the shearers.

Mr. King moved, and Mr. Boon seconded;—" That tho offer of the federation delegates be accepted, and that in the event cf their offer not being confirmed by tho Federation of Labour, this Association of Shearers take a ballot of its members to withdraw from the Federation of Labour."'

Mr. Tcwnsejid moved, and Mr. Cooper seconded, a& an amendment;—" That the shearers secede from the Federation of Labour altogether, and that\all this association does towards the Federation of Labour is to pay for the levy tickets that have been collected." The amendment was carried.

After further discussion, Mr. Laraey moved, and Mr. Purvis seconded, as a further amendment:—"That tho Federntlor. of Labour bo requested to grant the sheryers representation on the executive, such representation to be three delegates; er.ual representation on the Newspaper Doard of the 'Maorilo.nd Worker'; also a reduction of ihe. contribution to Is. per member, and foiling,to obtain this that the necessary slops be takrn for the Shearers' Association to secede from the Federation of Labour."

This further amendment was carried, and it was also resolved that in the event of the delegates refusing Io accept this the shearers should accept the delegates' oiTcr as. made earlier in the afternoon, pending the taking of the ballot.. Beth Mr. Semple and jfr. AVcbbentered emphatic protests- against this further amendment, and.said that they thought their own offer fair and reasonable. They would'decline personally to recommend it, although they would, of course, put. the matter fairly and squarely to their members.

Mr. Laracy said there- seemed to be a. misunderstanding. It was the question of the contribution .which was forcing tho conference to take the plebiscite. Apart from this, there was no split at all with the miners and the shearers.

It was arranged that the federation delegates should wait upon the shearers again next morning.

On Friday Mr. M'Rae moved, and Mr. AY. Johnstone seconded, that tho resolution passed the previous day to stcede from the Federation of Labour be rescinded, and that the following be substituted:—"That instead of a plebiscite being taken on the question of secession from tho Federation of Labour, a plebiscite bo taken in the shearing season to ascertain if the members of tho association approve of the policy and general conduct of the 'Maoriland Worker' or otherwise, and that, this conference decides' that the present subscription of 10?. (or shearers and ss. for shed hands will not allow tho association paying more than Is. p?r member per annum to the Federation of Labour."

This, motion was discussed at length by tho various delegates, and it was 'agreed I hat ( hero was no "split" at all between Jhs miners and shearer?, and that the difference of opinion that, existed related pierelr b the amount of the contribution and to tho methods of expounding tho priicy of the paper and its general tone. If those, matters could bo settled satisfactorily, there was no need to toko a, plebiscite; otherwise tho plebiscite must bp taken. The executive of tho Shearers' Ai.socia.fion was entitled to decide this matter under thi rules, being guided by the expressed wishes of conference. On being put to conference, tho motion was carries:!, with Mr. Townsend dissenting.

The federation delegates wore then "admitted, and expressed their approval of tho stand taken by the shearers", as they considered this would bo better understood by (lie workers grncrallv than the one adopted bv the conference the pi»vious dis>