LABOUR.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1654, 22 January 1913, Page 5

LABOUR.

PROPOSALS FOR UNITY.

TO OUST THE GOVERNMENT.

FEDERATION AND THE U.L.P.

TALK OF "SCABBERY."

'A conference, of Trades Unions of New Zealand, convened by the Federation of Labour, was opened in tho offices of tho "Maoriland. Worker" yesterday morning. Press representatives were not admitted to tho meeting, and the report of the proceedings herewith, is supplied by the reporter chosen by the delegates from amongst their number. (A few sentences have been deleted from the report of the first speeches, of Messrs. Webb and Semple, as being in our opinion libellous 'in tendency.) The conference was called to order by Mr. P. C. Webb, president of tho Federation of Labour, who formally welcomed the delegates. He said the Federation of Labour felt that this was the greatest and most important working'-class conferenco yet held in Now Zealand, and they sincerely anticipated that the outcome would be the passing of petty divisions over mere details which had characterised tho Labour movement in tho past: The eyes of the working class of New Zealand, and\indeed of Australasia as a whole, were focussed on the present gathering, and tho result of their deliberations would be anxiously awaited. He appealed to the delegates to let the dead past bury its dead, and to come together for more perfect unity and for tho general solidarity of tho working class. A Press Committee was appointed as follows:—Messrs. Semple,,Farland, Young, Ross, and Sullivan, with Mr. H. G. Holland as reporter. The Hon.'J. Rigg, M.L.C., was unanimously elected chairman of the conference, on the recommendation of the federation executive.

Mr. P. H. Hiekey was appointed secretary of the conference. It was resolved that the press be not admitted.

Committees wero appointed as follow— Standing Orders: Messrs. Dowgray, Hunter, Nind, Farland, Simpson, Burgoyue, Ellis. Tellers: Messrs. Armstrong, Coppersmith, Hunter, King. it .was resolved to sit from 9.30 till 12.30 and from 2 till's. Air. iidward, Trugear was accorded a hearty welcome on entering the room. It was resolved that proposers of motions be allowed ten minutes, and each other-speaker five minutes, tho mover to have fivo minutes for reply. The chairman invited the conference to accord a' hearty welcome to Mr. Tregcar. * Mr. Tregcar was given an ovation.. He said ho recognised the differences ns to methods that existed. Although ho had been a devoted and consistent advocate of arbitration for twenty years, it was certainly not tho sort of arbitration they had seen used by tho employers to' break larger unions. That sort of arbitration they ,kated and detested. ;He thanked the conferenco very warmly for having received bim. (Applause.) I it was decided that yisuors bo not admitted. .'..'■

■■' Mr. P. C. Webb (president of the Federation of Labour) outlined the reason of tho Federation of Labour ior the calling of the conference. Last February, in Auckland,: a big trouble was very ntarly precipitated by a .few general labourers who broke from the union, and formed an arbitration union, and sought and got an. award, binding the-great body who didn't desire to havo anything to do With the Court. At Kaitangata latcivtk'6 employers had used tho Court in'the same wajy and an. award was secured, in spite tf the Miners' Union'.-''.Similar, action at. WaihiJ where a handful of engine-drivers, at tho . instigation' of tho mino-ownor's,' had formed an ( arbitration union, and had got, an award binding the majority of the; .engine-drivers, i This,led up„to the great.. atriKont Waihi. ItwaanotlheMa'ssoyGovernment that defeated tho workers, but: their own sectionalism and disorganisation. By working-class organisation they could make, it impossible for Mr. Massey. to treat theni as at AVaihi, or for'them to be daily insulted in the. Court. Pro'iicriy organised, they would not need to, hand their affairs over to a Judge who knew nothing of their conditions. ; Tho question to-day was a national question. He asked delegates to accept tho .proposals submitted in tho spirit-in which tliey were put .forward. If the conference brought them closer together and ' solidified'.the working-class movement, it would have justified itself a thousand, times over. : Mr. Semple amplified the remarks of Mr. Webb, and explained the .circumstances that led up to the Huntly' lrckout, and its after'effects. Mr. Walsh had, appeared at Huntly under police, prblection, for the purpose of -forming tho "scab'' union. The meetings required to be held for the formation of an arbitration, union, and supposed to be held, wore never; held, The Department refused to disclose, the list of those who applied for registration of . the "scab union Messrs. . Black and Walsh i ha'd taken part in tho' deliberations with the employers—had appeared there as representatives of the "scab" union. After tho "scab" union had .been formed, the Federation Executive had endeavoured to prevent the same outrages. that had occurred at Wnihi. A train with 80 police was sent to Huntly, tho Union Jack was hoisted, and every man who refused to join the "scab", union was branded as disloyal to tho King. The Maori pas were visited by Mr> Walsh and others, and half-grown half-caste Maoris were recruited. When the unionists resolved to join the new "union," they were refused admission, and the militants were weeded out with the assistance of Walsh and Dlnck. Thiswwats t tho pitch of "scab" unionism the arbitration law was being used to perpetrate. The Federation of Labour was asking the conference _to take steps to break - down the possibility of that sort of minority rule. In the agreement of the "scab" unions at Auckland

and Huntly and Waihi, it was provided that if a member of the discharged his reinstatement could not bo asked for. It was also provided that any employer could join by paying ss._ a year. Provision was also mado at Waihi that any contractor who took his fellow-worker in on the job would have his contract cancelled, and that no underground worker be paid by the contractor more than 9s. a day. A clause would in time be inserted in the present law, making the strike illegal. Under the "scab" rules a ballot of the union had to be taken before an individual member could give 6d. to keep women and children from starving. In tho event, of such a ballot being taken, the employers had to be given six weeks' notice. He concluded by expressing pleasure at the large number, of .delegates present, and urged that personalities should be avoided, and solidarity sought. They, wero not asking _ conference to declare against arbitration— although tho federation itself iwas against arbitration, and in favour of industrial unionism. They had no apology whatever to otter re Waihi—that was a fight that was forced upon them, and it was far. better to have gone down fighting grandly than to have shirked the fight. At Huntlv the militant section had been crucified, and it was for the workers as a whole to say whether they would permit the militant section to be crucified. Whatever el?e they did, they could unite to crush Mnssev and the crowd that wero out to smash working-class organisation with class-made law, tho policeman s baton, and the soldier's rifle. (Applause.! A letter wns rend from the National Peace .Council, asking to bo allowed, to deputationise conference: re militarism and the conscription Act. It was resolved that the matter bo referred to tho Standing Orders Coninntten for arrangement nf details. Mr. Hunter moved: "That the Ilonr'nion Executive of the United Labour Partv bo invited to attend the conferencei" He urged that if this were done the chances of unitv'would l:o enhanced. Mr. Harris seconded the motion. Mr. Campbell said he objected to any politic.il party'being represented—this was an industrial conference. If they were wing to invite flic Unit"d Labour Party he won'd nmvn to add that tl-.p cxTutivn of I he Socialist Party br- aUn invited. Mr. Sullivan -supported the motion to invite the executive of the United Labour Party. Ha had good ground for saying

that if the co-operntion of tho Labour party was sougln, it would result in the establishment of a single industrial organisation in Xew Zealand. Messrs. Borehain and Vnrdley supported tho motion.

Mr. Douglas asked' whether the United Labour party executive would come as delegates. Ee opposed anv political party coming in. If they allowed the Labour party to come in they must certainly admit the Socialist party. At this sl-r-ue the conference adjourned for luncheon.

After luncheon, Mr. Campbell asked the chairman to rule the motion out of order on the ground that tho conference was wholly industrial. His union would agree to nothing decided if political parties were admitted.

The chairman ruled ho had no power to.decide—it was a matter for tho conference.

Mr. Douglas concluded his remarks in opposition to the proposal. Mr. Rcid urged that the Labour party was both political and industrial, and he favoured inviting their representatives. Mr. Burgoyno supported the resolution to invite the Labour party, but would refuse to vote for inviting tho Socialist party. The United labour party represented unions, and tho Socialist party didn't. He said over 100 unions were affiliated to the Labour party. Mr. Braidwood supported tho resolution. He said if the United Labour party had been invited, more unions would have been represented. Mr. It. Voyce and Mr. Agar also supported the resolution.

Mr. E. Kennedy opposed. His experience was that if they brought politics into tho industrial organisation the tendency was to split up. He /believed in political action. As soon as political action was introduced into tne Christchurch Trades Council, the council was split up, and was now on its last legs.'Mr. Ross said if they invited political bodies it would be widening the purpose of the conference. The executive of tho Labour party could have been there as representatives of their unions, but they had elected to bo absent. The United Labour party had counselled its affiliations not to participate in the conferenco. Mr. Ralph denied that the executive had advised its affiliations not to take part in the conference. He. characterised tho statement as false. He was there to try and bring about good fellowship and unity, and he believed his co-delegates w;cre there for the same purpose. Mr. Tregoar announced that he had been appointed. a delegate from tho Carriers' Union. ■ ,

Mr. Ross said the Wellington District Council had'advised its 'affiliations not to participate in the conference; the rational organiser of the United Labour party, in the official labour page of the "New Zealand Times;" had advised that tho Labour party affiliations should not participate; the president, the Hon. J. T. Paul, in the "Otago Daily Times," had similarly'advised, and so also, had Mr. Carey in the columns of the paper ho WTote for. Mr. 11. Howard argued that all unionists must get hold of the reins of political power. In New Zealand seventy men who controlled the political machine had the power to stranglo tho industrial workers. ' , * ■ Mr. Fagan supported the motion. They could shift the clause objected to only by taking political action, and if the bringing of those men in. would -make--for unity tnat way, he would voto for it. He advocated tho; formation, of political Labour leagues all over the country. Mr. M'Leunan opposed. the motion: The conference was essentially a clufereuce of trade unionists. If they invited tho leaders of such a political piirty they wero going to do something tue conference was: never intended to do. .If the Labour party came,' the Socialist party must bs invited also. He would bo' against either, of theni coming. • ' Mr. Young said it was desirablo that tho Labour party should bo invited to send delegates. The Labour party was as much an industrial party as the Federation of Labour.' The work of this conferenco wris to bring the Federation of Labour, and . the United Labour Party together. Ho said tho Federation vi Labour leaders had found out, at their bitter cost,: that 'the' political policy of tho United Labour Party waii quite right. Mr. Rogers opposed the motion. Tho invitation was to unions. ' There were trado unions that would not havo been (represented if they, had known that, a political party,was-to be dragged in. , ;■ -Mr. Laracy said ho would support;the motion to invite the Labour party. As members' of the Federation of Labour they were free to join'any political prrty. lie was opposed to forming a political party, to clash with tho United Labour Party. ■•'■''. Mr. Webb opposed the motion. The idea of the conveners was'that the con--gress should be an industrial conferencepolitical parties wero not considered. There were divisions: politically, and those who look sides' should remember that this was a trade union congress, nnd not a congress of political bodies, and for tho sake of tho movement it was far 'better that the political parties should not be drawn in. -

Mr. Woodhaiu said the Canterbury Trades und Labour Council was allied' with the United Labour Party, and he therefore questioned the attitude uf tho. federation executive in inviting' that body while refusing invitation to others. Mr. Soinple said the executive never discussed political parties. They had called an industrial conference, 'i'ho Federation of had .never been anti-political. He recognised that Parliament ■ could .bo used for the working class. But he held that they must have industrial- strength first, and that would reflect itself politically. Ho instanced the Australian Labour party as an example of political crookedness being manifested as a result of industrial divisions. They had not called the conference to admit thatMhey had been wrong. They sought to unite on the industrial field. AVhcy they reached the question of political action, the Labour party and the Socialist party would then be entitled to bo consulted. No member of ,tho federation of Labour ever'held anti-political ■ views. It renuircd.no Waihi to convince them that political action was necessary; but they held that far more important than 100,000 votes was the'organising of. 100,000 workers on ,the industrial field—' to make strength at the point of production. . Mr. Silvcrstone reminded delegates that if they were going to have representatives of the Labour party, they would have to invito the Socialist party, whose units represented the most militant a 9 well as the most intellectual section of the workers air over the world, Mr. J. Hutchinson said hia union wanted to'invite all bodies At present they, were not connected with any party; He would support tho motion. -Mr. Farland urged that the conference was industrial. Tho organisation' that sent him there bo understood the circular invitation (from which he quoted), and in bringing in political bodies they were exceeding the powers conferred upon them. They had only a mandate from their unions to act as industrial organisations. The climax at Waihi was reached, more as a result of industrial weakness than because of political reasons. He certainly believed in political action, but hia union believed in keeping unions free of political wranglings. The United Labour party mixed up politics with unionism. Mr. Boreham 6poke in favour of two delegates from the Labour party. While the Liberal party, even with Mackenzie at its head, was in power, no policeman was sent to bludgeon a unionist to death. Mr. Armstrong said ho was just as concerned to-day as ever ho was that tho industrial principles of the Federation of Labour were right; The executive had never discussed either the Labour party, tho United Labour pnrty, or the Socialist party. Now it was for th'o conference to decide. He would place no opposition to the Labour party being there, or tho Socialist party. lie was not satisfied with tho tactics of the United Labour party, and for that reason ho would vote in favour of their being there. Mr. Hickey said thero was a considerable amount of misunderstanding as to the reason the conference was called. He quoted from the various circulars issued by tho executive. .He 'recognised there could not be two or three political organisations. . Personally he wanted to bring about tho solidarity of Labour on the industrial and political field. Before . they could have unity in the political field they would have to.approach every organisation of a working-class character —whether Labour or Socialist. He appealed to them not to carry the present resolution, but to wait, till they could'po to the Labour parly and the United Labour party with concrete proposals. Mr. K. Gould said if tlio question of ■ political action waa to bo dealt with lator

timo should not bs wasted on it now. Ho had como as the representative of an industrial organisation. Mr. .Munitrly said too much attention was being jjnitl to the United Labour party. If tlie United Labour party camo . they would come representing no one, for their unions had declined to send delegates. If they organised into one great federation they would have no need to trouble about Arbitration- Acts. The union lie represented would not permit its funds to 1)3 used for political purposes. Ho hoped they would not ask any political party to send delegates .-there; Mr. Nout ventured to-say that if tho Wellington Trades and Labour Council had been invited twenty or thirty "other unions would have been represented. They were there to unify Labour, and how could they do that if they left the United Labour party out? They were out to oust Massey, and how were they: going to do it if they wero going to keep on. as they had bean doing for tho past .twenty, years? They should have all sections-of the working class movement, the: I *.;.'-.-!• Mr. James O'Brien ■ said- the United Labour aPrty had an'j opportunity to send delegates if it was ah' industrial organisa-1 lion. He was not .there : to sit with a political organisation..-...' Mr.-'AY. 13. Parry opposed tho motion. He said if tho rank and file wero going . to depend upon some leader on tho political field td lead them out of the bondage they -were going to, inako a huge mistake. The conference was called together in the main to prevent tho wholesale scabbing that was taking place in New Zealand to-day. -'Ho wanted to know what attitude - trade unions were, going to take up to force the undoing of what had been done at Waihi • and Huntly.' It behoved them to como to some agreement as to what lino of action should be taken to get those men buck to their work and to their homes in Waihi and Huntly. Mr. Sullivan said the Labour party was an industrial organisation representing approximately 100 unions. They wanted to effect one industrial organisation, avid they could do that by; getting tho representatives of the Labour party there. He believed there were many members'of tho Labour party there.' Ho believed there wero many members of tho Labour party who would 1m willing for .the United Labour .party to withdraw- from tho industrial field, giving a modification of the constitution of tho Federation of Labour. The .United Labour party executive was just as keenly anxious for unity as was the federation executive. All over the world there were divisions as to the relative value of industrial and political action. He instanced the British Socialist party as a caso in point. Mr. Agar said they were making .a mountain out : of a molehill. Ho was in favour of at once admitting tho Labour party delegates. Mr. Milligan said if unions affiliated with the Labour party had beeii invited, there was no necessity for their executive to bo invited. They we're wasting time in discussing a trivial matter. ■ Mr. Wheatley ■' said he worked with' a lot 'of "men with different opinions, and who wanted unity to stop'things like Waihi happening in- the future. Mr. J. 'Cared said he would not object to delegates of the Labour party addressing the'conference, but would object to them as delegates. '.-•'■;.. ■.'.; The amendment for two delegates was carried on tho voices.;.. The motion was then carried by 50 votes to 40 on division. ■•;,- Mr. G. Smith moved that the executive of tho -Socialist party be officially invited to send two delegates. - - f ■ Mr. P. Hill seconded, i and Mr. Silvorsfeme and Mr. L-uracy snpporlcd. The motion was carried. ■ Mr. Smith moved and Mr. Coppersmith seconded:'"That the Independent Y\"orkf era of the World be invited to send two delegates." .-■''..• ; , Carried. . ' "■. . . . [. Conference to bo. photographed at 9 ; o'clock to-morrow . morning.