THE FEDERATION OF LABOUR.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1453, 30 May 1912, Page 6

THE FEDERATION OF LABOUR.

■'■'■ ANNUAL CONFERENCE. MILITARY TRAINING OPPOSED. The Federation of Labour Conference continued its sittings yesterday, Mr. P. C. Webb presiding. Following is an official report uf the proceedings:— <>» Ihe inoiio., „r Messrs. W. Bromilow and .1. Montgomery, tho following renii! was carried--"'!'!,:,!, eoni'erenee consi.i•i'nlcl "' '" ' U ''' lll " ,li ' ilin - ! >' 1118 ||| 'B 11. was moved by Mr. P. Eraser, second- .',,„-' v , ill ,'' "' '-"DperMiiilh, and earricdl.niit Die conli-iene., keep in view tho principle of Lin. m x ii„,.,. s ' ,| lly _" Moved by Messrs. Uromilow and M. Minify, and <-nrried--"That llio federa- ","".. T" i', 1 . 1 , I s """ 1 ' «t its command to liliolish military training." •'" lh. ; motion or J|,. ws . E.J. ffownrd •!"'l •'■ Hood if was ngrend-'Thnt con-ch-m-c l». ~-lted |„ s „pp„,-|. Die Ilardie\inlitiil rcwiliiiion re, militarism." -i!e,;irs. .1. Dow-gray .and J. Newman I - '.'"'III" federation, through '"■< paper the 'Maoriland Worker,' stock l""»l'lil'.-k 1.-...1.5. etc., on Socialism and Moved by Messrs |. Dowgrnv and J. on Ac. he amended Io read that, in (he oienl or any ivorlte,- meeting „.j||, ~ f.,, n | "ilii' l M l "- , -f''ir.-'!.',T 1 ' ' >? k ' !i l 0 Kt ' l i ' ( ""i )( ' n ' |.'ln'7''' l »'ri } U ;i* r \ J '- D and J. H"''d:- llmi. ||,c domic,'!,, clause of the Miw'V" "'V'" 1 ' .mil 1 1-.:-- | hiil. coufcronco affirm the iiece-v-oly of making it compulsory for cuipln.vcrs lo ,„s,iro l]„.j r employees igaiiisf risk of „,.«,d,.„ts with somo ' Te _ potable ,n,uran-e n |ilco."-Carriod. p'-i'''"' l ,,,;)' ,' ,,,! w- <"''• liruco and D. i-eiiy:- Hint compensation for accident, start, rrom day of accident, and that the t.mnpensa ion Act. be amended so I hat payment, bo made seven days after Die iiiTidcni. has ink,.,, place; a'nd, further, that nli medical fees be paid by employers. —Carried.

If was decided Uiat a flag be designed to represent the federation, and that some mark of disl.incl.inn be inaugiiritod in Dm shape, of a badge or button, vhich nil members bo nr.-jnested to wear. A motion (hat conference consider Hie i.d'.-isal.ilit.v of establishing Mnv 1 a<= the imiiiinl holiday for all affiliated bodies was defeated. Owing to Mr. Parry's absence from conference, Mr. J. Roberts was -ipnointed vice-chairman. The executive reported that the Onera House had ton engaged for a public ejecting on Sunday evening next. STATE OWNERSHIP CRITICISED. In the afternoon, Mr, H. Coppersmith (Runanga) moved:—"That strong representation bo made to the Government to refrain from granting further coal leases, and that tho Government open more State coalmines." Mr. J. Dowgroy (Granity) seconded themntion. Mr. J. E. Duncan (Waikalo) said that tho working class would not benefit bv Governmental control of industry. Governments existed to show that State enterprise was a failure. Conditions in the State mine wero not better than those in other mines. _ Mr. J. B. King (Auckland) said that State enterprises were in elfect owned by capitalists. Nationalisation led workers away from the main issue. Governments exploited a.s much as private enterprise. Mr. M. Laracy (shearers) said it should bo their duty to sen that the Government took over all mines. Mr. W. Bromilow (Blackball) said that they had at Blackball a. mine next door to the State mines, and in both exploitation was akin.

Mr. A. Rosser (Auckland tramway men) said that apart from conditions of work there was tho question of a necessary commodity being supplied cheaply to the public. Competition of Government with private enterprise had reduced the prico of coal. Mr. P. H. Hickey (AVest Coast workers) said that a great deal of State interference with private enterprise had proved advantageous to tho community. Did the opponents of the remit oppose that interference ? -Mr. E. Canham (Auckland W.W.') thought that with Government ownership thoy had a smaller hurdle to get over in gaining emancipation from wago slavery. It was their bounden d*tv to get as many mines as possible under State control. Mr. F. Lurch. (Lyttelton W 7 said that Stale ownership was tho next best thing to their objective. Mr. T. Stephenson (Westport Labour Union) said that the Government was making no attempt to reserve leases. Mr. J. Flood (Canterbury Labourers) thought tho work outlined in the remit could be left to their friends the United Labour Party to deal with. Mr. F. Du Feu (Nelson W.W.) said that iron deposits also needed protection. Mr. J. Cumming (Seddonville) said there was less victimisation in the State mines than in others. The State mine had never tried to force upon the men the indignity of a medical examination. Mr. P. Fraser (Auckland Labourers) said tho worker was robbed where- Ire worked, and not where he purchased commodities. Had the State mine showed itself more amenable to economic pressure than private mines? Nothing had been brought forward to show that conditions were better in the State mine. Air. M. J. Savage (Auckland brewery workers) said that ho had been informed that there were more fatal accidents at Die State mine than at any other. State ownership did not alter tho economic facts. Only by workers' economic powers would tho State or other employers bo influenced.

Mr. H. Kennedy (Wnihi) read from the manifesto issued by the State Miners' Union to illustrate the conditions in the Stale mine. The manifesto was the most, condemning fact of State ownership. Mr. D. Reidy (Wellington waterside workers) said that some delegates seemed to bo in favour of the monopolist rather than the State. If conditions in the State mine were bad the step to take was to alter the conditions, and not tho ownership. i\r. R. Gould (Timaru waterside workers) said that he favoured organising the workers to take and hold the mines whether State or private. Mr. C. M. Briggs (flaxmillers) supported the 'remit. Mr. H. Coppersmith, in reply, said that they needed to fight right on until they made all coal State coal. Every word in tho State miners' manifesto was true, and yet conditions wero better at Runanga than elsewhere. He instanced the mining accidents under private companies ns showing their alarming frequency and nature, and entered into a technical exnlanation of the cause of accidents ."it Fiuuanga. Tho remit was carried bv 10S votes to 31. PROFESSOR MILLS. If was moved by Messrs. P. Fraser and J. B. King, and carried: "That conference instruct the Federation Executive to communicate with all representative Labour organisations throughout the world for the purpose of pointing out tho attempt on the part of the alleged Labour advocate. Walter Thomas Mills, to spread dissension and disunity in the ranks of organised Labour at a time when tliev were confronted with a united enemy in the Einnloyers' Federation." ft was moved by Messrs. Young and M'Herron. and carried:— "That the Government be asked to allow the Telegraph Deuartmeut to telephone ail telegraphic shipping notices of (lie arrivals and departures of vessels lo tiie waterside workers' waiting-rooms."