UNITY CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1413, 13 April 1912, Page 10

UNITY CONFERENCE.

« ■' A FINAL MEETING. PKFSENTA'HON TO THE HON. J. T. PAUL.' The delegates to the Unity Conference held a final meeting yesterday, mainly for the purpose of making a presentation to their chairman, the Jlon. J. T. Paul. Mr. W. C. Noot, who presided, said that tliey would all admit thai t'liey had attended one oi the greatest conferences ever held in New Zealand. They would also all agree that their chairman had acquitted himself remarkably well under ciruumstancis that were sometimes difficult. Jt was felt that the able manner in which Mr. Paul had conducted the proceedings of the Unity Conference should be recognised. A small subscription had been taken up from the delegates attending the conference, and it was intended to make Mr. Paul a presentation. Mr. W . Naughton, who wa e called upon lo make the presentation, said that all the delegates had a high appreciation of Mr. Paul and of the way in which he lmd controlled the conference. No . one else could have conducted the business in a manner as satisfactory as Mr. Paul had done. Had'it not been for his tact and close attention to details, delegates might have spent wec-ks in Wellington and tlfcn been.no further forward. Mr. Paul hail conciliated objectors and smoothed over djlKcullies in a wonderful way. Mr. Naughton, in conclusion, asked-Mr. Paul to accept a silver watch clock as a memr-iito from the delegates to the Unity Conference, of what he honestly believed would be a historic occasion. '(Loud applause.) Delegates at this stage rose and sang "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" and gave hearty cheers for Mr. Paul and for Mrs. Paul. Professor Mills said that if the Unilv Conference had succeeded in bringing many badly tangled threads together they were under very great obligations to the gentleman who had presided. Mr. AV. H. Hampton slated that the Labour Oonleronce had placed on record its-high.appreciation of the service® rnn(llred by Professor Mills, Mr. Sullivan ami more especially Mr. Paul. 'V '! ori ' e " (Southland) said that J l r ;. l ,ln 'J the greatest stroke ol Ins lue so far as the Labour movement was concerned. Labour had leaders available who were quite as good as (lie great leaders of the Liberal party, and Mr. Paul was one of them. . Ml '' Pa "J ;, aul tliat I,l> fplt this uns oi-o oi the most cnibnrrnsMnq nccasions that, had arisen at the Unity Conrerencc. He believed that the conference had been a success, and felt that it was the most wonderful and important conference ever held in this countrv. Tliev had got now a machine that could be put in operation to give absolute expression to the Labour forces of this country. All that they needed now was enthusiasm and sincerity to push it along. He bad decided early in life to place whatever ability he had at command at the disposal of those who needed it most. The Labour movement embodied most of what was true and sincere in political life. They should not loso any day or any week in trying to push the Labour movement along. The Unity Conference marked the end in a large measure of the disunion that had shivered the Labour forces of this country. .The tide , had turned, and .they could look fofward to a continuous progressive advance. Hp. .thanked them for their gift and assured thorn that he would treasure it.

Some Final Details. Before delegates dispersed the following resolutions lvqre passed:— "That this organisation do now instruct the executive to register the United Labour Party under the Unclassified Societies Act." "That a special message of encouragement- he sent to the organisations of women workers throughout this country who will be ready to assist in the formation of (he United Labour party." The conference also passed n resolution expressing appreciation of the services rendered by its secretary (Mr. D. C!. Sullivan). ■ ' Among the provisions embodied by the conference in its platform are the following:— Local I?olitics. The conference also embodies the following municipal charter in its constitution:— 1. Municipalization of public utilities. 2. Maintenance and extension of the existing municipal trading services. .1. All community enterprises, such as tramways, lighting, water supply, baths, markets, etc., lo be conducted and controlled by the municipality. General Provisions. It was also decided l to-add planks providing for the abolition ;of ; grand juries,' appointment of public-defenders as well "as public prosecutors,- statutory preference to unionists; .State ' life, ticcidenfj ami unemployment.insurance, and a graduated income tax on scientific principles. Mr. A. M'C'arlhy (Dunedin) has been appointed secretary of tho Dominion executive council.