TRADES COUNCILS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1414, 15 April 1912, Page 4

TRADES COUNCILS.

THE CONFERENCE CONCLUDES,

The conference of delegates representing the Trades Councils of tlio Dominion was brought to a conclusion 911 Saturday. The representations of the deputation from tlifi New Zealand Land Values League, which waited on the conferenco the previous day, were considered. Mr. \V. Naughton (Wellington) moved: "That the conference endorse the principle of making rating unimproved land values compulsory, anil enters a protest against the proposed increase in laud tax exemption from J2.i00 to ,£IOOO. Mr. Sullivan said that the conference should make it clear that this Was not aimed at the smaller farmer, but that it was a system which would be highly beneficial to liim. The motion was carried on tho voices. The Otago Council was appointed an executive for tho purpose of winding up tho affairs of tlio federation (which has now become merged in the United Labour I'nrt.v. A. letter received from the Victorian Trades Councils, requesting New Zealand to send representatives to an inter-State conference, to bo held in Melbourne, and to endorse the principle of international disarmament was considered.

On the motion of Mr. Sullivan, it was resolved: "That the conference regret* that in view of the great demands upon tho finance and energy of the New Zealand organisations in putting into operation the great system of a unified Labour I'arty recently approved, it cannot lake pnrt in the conference, but, nevertheless, will give unqualified approval to any proposal put forward by Ihe Inter-State Councils' Conference, that will tend to strengthen Uio agitation against the burdensome, unprofitable, ami ridiculous coinpetition in armaments going 011 at present among the Governments of civilised States, and which is undoubtedly detrimental to the best interests of (lie people." Votes of thanks wore passed to all those who had assisted to make the delegates' stay in 'Wellington a pleasant one, to the press, and to the president of tho conference (the Hon. J. T. I'aul).