LABOUR AIMS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1408, 8 April 1912, Page 5

LABOUR AIMS.

IN INDUSTRY AND POLITICS. THREE CONFERENCES, THE MEETINGS ON SATURDAY, Labour delegates who have corao to Wellington to attend tho conferences, which commenced on Saturday, and aro to continue during the. whole- of this week, make no secret of tho fact that they regard tlio occasion ns niomeulous. Tho chairman of tho Unity Conference (the Hon. J. 'J'. Paul), addressing that body on Saturday, remarked: "If we don't do something at this conference, I, lor one, would lose hope of Labour's doing anything, immediately at any rate." A similar lone prevails with other delegates and somo of them at least are ' hopeful that tho material results cf (ho conferences now in progress will include tho establishment of a strong Labour party in politics and a sweeping review and reconstruction of tho system of industrial organisation in New Zealand.

An original departure in the Labour deliberations this year will be consideration of the "unity proposals," which have been advocated for some timo past by Professor \V. T. Mills. Adoption of tho unity scheme would involve tho grouping of trades in Dominion organisations anil tho alliance of these groups in .1 national federation. Tho advocates of the unity scheme also aim at setting up 0. Labour Representation Council in each political division of the country. Three conferences, in all, have been convened, "the Unity Conference," the annual conference of Trades Councils, and the annual conference of the Labour party. Most of the delegates have been deputed to attend all thrco conferences. Tho Unity Conference and the Tracks' Councils' Conference opened on Sat unlay. The Labour. Party Conference will probably commence to-day. Broadly speaking, the Unity Conference will be "advisory in character. Its principal business will be to draw up the constitution and platform of a Dominion Labour organisation, taking noto of suggestions made by the Trades Councils' Conference or the Labour Party Conference. Nothing that the Unity Conference may do will have official weight or sanction until it has been approved and endorsed by the other two conferences.

TRADES COUNCIL DELEGATES. SOME PRELIMINARIES. The annual, conference of Trades Council delegates was opened in the joint-com-mittees' room, Parliamentary Building;, on Saturday morning. '1 lie following councils vera represented:—'Wellington: Messrs. M. J. Rcardan, W. Xaughloii, P. L. Muir, and W. C. Xool. Chrihtchiirch: Messrs. D. Sullivan, I'. Burgoyne, G. R. Whiting, and E. Corderv. ~ Dunedin: Hon. ,1. T. Paul, and Mr. R. Brren.- lnvcrcargill: Mr. M. J.l'orde. Uawke'sßav: Mr. J). Colder. East Coast: Mr. D. W. Coleman. Timavu: Mr. J. Hoarder, Auckland: Mr. Clark. Mr. M. J. Keardon extended a welcome to the delegates to tlio conference, which he described as cno of very great importance to the workers df the Dominion. The annual renort was then mentioned by Mr. G. I!. Whiting, of Christcliurch, the senior delegate. Owing to some delay the report and balance-sheet were not yet ready, but copies would bo ready for the delegnlos and the press on Monday. Mr. Whiting then called for nominations for tho positions of chairman and secretary. The Hon.. J. T. Paul, M.L.C., who was elected chairman, thanked the delegates for the confidence bestowed in him. He said he recognised the responsibilities thrown on him in controlling this, tho' most, important conference yet held. Mr. W. C. Noot was elected secretary to tho conference. It was decided that, the conference be open to the press and Ihe public, except such business as was.decided to Ijo taken in committee. On the motion of Mr. M. .T. Kenrdon, it was decided to invite the Minister for Labour (the Hon. 0. Laurcnson), to attend (lie conference. It was decided that after preliminary business was transacted, the meeting should adjourn to enable delegates to attend the unily conference, after which tho meeting could be called together at the discretion of the chairman. UNITY PROPOSALS, THE AMBITIOXS~OF LABOUR. Professor Mills presided over tho Unity Conference until a regular chairman had been appointed. Mr. ,1. A. M'Cnllogh' was proposed for that office, but refused to accept it, and nominated instead the Hon. J. T. Paul, who was elected unopposed. In thanking delegates for the honour douo him, Mr. Paul said that no more important conference than this had ever been held in Xow Zealand. Why was it, he asked, that they who had so much in common were so divided? Tho-different, wings of the Progressive army quarrelled amongst themselves. This gave the reactionary forces an importance out of all proportion to their numbers. He hoped that the outcome of this conference would be a determination to unite and co-oper-ate. Tho country, within the next few months, might have the best Government or tho worst Government that it had ever had. The Labour forces were disunited when they should be united. At no time in tho last twenty years had tho position been so serious, and Labour should not be divided on such au occasion as this. Ho sincerely hoped that, in tho next Parliament, Labour would have the representation and influence that the number of its adherents entitled it to. Mr. D. Sullivan (Christcliurch) was appointed secretary to tho conference. Some discussion took place in regard to voting powers. It was decided that each delegate should exercise one vote, an amendment that delegates should have a. vote for each body represented being defeated. Voting powers do not extend to "fraternal delegates," of'whom a number are attending the conference, but only to accredited representatives of Labour or industrial organisations. A motion to exclude the press was defeated by IS votes to 10, and it wasagreed that reporters should be admitted save when the conference was in committee. Delegates decided to sit from 0 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., and from 2 p.m. until 5. These preliminaries being settled, tho conference went into committee to consider the : constitution of'the proposed "National Eederatiou of Affiliated Unions,"

In addition to tho following delegate'-, who attended tho Unity Conference on Saturday others are expected to arrive to-day:—The Hon. J. T. Paul (Dunedin Trades Council and Clothing Trades Federation of New Zealand), chairman; Messrs. D. W. Coleman (East Coast Trades Council), D. Goulder (Hawke's Bay Trades Council); ,T. Header (Tiraaru Trades Council); Lawrence Johnstono (Young New Zealand Party, Auckland); W. Brodrick (Federated Painters'), R. Plater (Dunedin Labour Party, Dunedin Labour Representation Council, and Dunedin Tramways' Union), Wm, Enson (Christehurch Fabian Society), W. J. Jordan (Wanganui Labour Party), W. T. Colo (Otago Brassfinishers' Union), M. J. Renrdon, W. Noughton, P. L. Muir, and W. C. Noot (Wellington Trades Council); R. Breen (Otago Trades Council). .T. A. M'Cullougli (Riccnrton Labour party); W. E. Woodhaw (Canterbury Tanners' Union), W. IT. Ha'mpton, D. M'Laren, J. V. Smith' (Wellington Labour parly). Ernest Cordory (Canterbury Cycle Workers' and Canterbury Trades Council), F. Burgovno (Canterbury Trades Council), T. IT. l/ovegrovo fWanganui Waterside Workers'), J. E. Mncmanus (Otago General Labourers'), John Robertson (Otago Metal Workers), Professor W. T. Mills (orimniser), Walter A. Pleydell (Canterbury Machinists' and Bookbinders'), Frank Ford (Dunedin Amalgamated Society of Engineers). F. M. King (Land Values League, Auckland), Arthur M'Cartliv (Dunedin Laliour party), A. IT. Ttob'on (Ha"din"s Labour party). C. B. Collins and T. E. Waters (Marlon Labour party). G. R. Whiling (Canterbury Trades'Olllne.il). E. J. Carey dloW l'.ninlove"s' Federation). Professor D. K. Picker,'. Tim*. V. TLislett. and 0. S. Smith (UHrnl.T-iiin Students' Christian Union), P. G. Snllivii" (Canterbury Trades' Council). Arthur Withy (New" Zealand Land Vain" L'-n'-ue. Wellington), M. J. Fordo (Southland Labour Council and General Labourers' Union), Allan Bell (Voung Xew Zealand Party. Waikato), C. Pearre Canterbury C. J. Gill (rnlinrrston North Labour parly), .HejdamM J. T. Pa,ul and A, M'Cftrtnj

(Dunedin, HoußOiyhc*' Union), Hcsdnmo. J, U'Combs and T. E. Taylor (National Biecutivo Housewives' Union), Mrs. WOIII (Christchurch Housewives' union), Mrs GoSo (Gisboruo Housewives' Union). WORK AHEAD. ■THE PROSPECTS OF UNITY. ' It Is oxpecled that the Unity Confer once, will concludo to-day its eonsiuci..tion, in committee, of tho'constitution ,;i tho proposed "National Federation," ami that it will then emerge from conuiiic\i' mid discuss in tho open tho proposed p:atform of that organisation. When me platform lias been dealt with, tho work ui the Unity Conference will be submitted u' tho Labour party conference and Inn Trades Councils' conference. If theso bodies suggest any amendments or alterations in constitution or platform the Unity Conference, will sit later to consider them. Most delegates are sanguine that definite results will bo attained by tho Unity Conference, and will bo endorsed by tho trades councils and tho existing Labour party, but the prospects of an absolutely united Labour movement in tho immediate future nro admittedly not bright. Tho New Zealand Federation of Labour, a body which includes the powerful miners', watersidcrs', and shearers' unions, has thus far held aloof from the trades councils and ether bodies that aro supporting the unity scheme, and the gap thus created is not likely to be easily bridged' over. One "unity" delegate remarked, in conversation, that tho strike was the first line of attack with tile federation, wliilo the trades councils and other unions regarded the strike as the last lino of dcfeiiue. On tho other hand the "unity" agitation has tended to promote Labour alliances to some extent. The Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants and 11 number of radical and Socialist bodies, not hitherto associated with the trades councils or Labour party, are sending delegates to the Unity Conference. The New Zealand Socialist party, however, is not represented, and does not approve of the unity scheme. ENTERTAINING VISITORS. Yesterday visiting delegates were taken by the president (Mr. M. .T. Reardon) and members of the Wellington Trades Council for a drive to Bellevuo Gardens, at tho Hutt. The visitors were entertained at luncheon, and a pleasant day was sponf. . ~-..,.. On Wednesday evening the local Labour parly and the Wellington Trades Council are to entertain visitors at a "smoke social." The members of the Ministry, together w.ith Sir Joseph Ward and tho Hoi]. 11. M'Konzie, have been invited to attend as guests of the Trades Council. Tho Prime Minister (the Hon. T. Mackenzie) has already telegraphed, regretting that he will be unable to attend, as tie,if to be entertained at Eltham oifAYoducsday evening. OTHER CONFERENCES. In addition to tho main conferences mentioned above, several minor conferences aro also being held. A Dominion conference'of plumbers is being held'at the Trades Hall. It is considering, among other things, a "Plumbers' Registration Bill," which was taken up but net. passed, last year, and will be again brought under the notice of the Government. . A. Dominion conference of drivers is also being held, and still another conferenco in progress is that of tho New Zealand Socialist party.