THE FEDERATION AND THE ANTI-REFORMERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1659, 28 January 1913, Page 6

THE FEDERATION AND THE ANTI-REFORMERS.

There is one thing upon which it is reasonable tq compliment the gentlemen who have been putting tho world to rights in Wakefield Street during the past week or so: they have been plain and blunt in their "resolutions." Plainer and blunter, perhaps, than; they will find wise in a littlo while, when tho general body of sensible workingmen have fully realised what has bqen done in their name. The delegates have had their holiday, and they have yet t-o suffer, tho resultant headache. The Conference concluded yesterday • with a burst of resolutions which must make very sad reading for the majority of thoso trade unionists 'who had imagined that the United labour Party was quite a reasonable industrial body. The Hon., J. T. Paul, Mr. TiipGEAn, Mr. Fowlds—surely these names guaranteed that there' would be no running amok. But the Conference secured the official submission of tho Party of Mr. Paul andMR. Fowlds and the others, and it did almost nothing but run amok. Let us give an example or two, One of the things of which the Labour Party has Been most proud has been its contempt for those thoughtless peoplo who are making war upon our defence system. Yesterday, however, the Conference unanimously carried a resolution which binds tJhe old Labour Party atid all its officers, the trade unions, and the party lately led by Sir Joseph Ward (for that party has been stoutly defending the Federation and urging an alliance with it upon the supporters cif tho late Government) to a- "determined hostility to the form of conscription placed on tho New Zealand Statute Books." Adversity _ makes strango bedfellows, and inspires strango apostacies, but we are bound to say that we should not have anticipated a communion of spirit between tho Federation of Labour and tho old and tried supporters of the late Government, which introduced the defence system. The Christchurch organ of the anti-Reformers, the Liittrtton Times, has'been treating the Federation as a potential friend, as a friend who would bo an actual friend if it would only not split tho'Labour Party's support of "tho ot-hor progressives." Well, the Federation has accomplished the desired unity with tho. U.L.P. by the .simple process of assimilating it,- and nur jfrionds the anti-Hoformera have now

a solid "Labour" body as its ally against the Reform Party. ,Wo do not suppose that, now union is complete, they will'hesitate to subscribe to the "resolutions" of the Conference. " Sp now wo know just where tho anti-Reformers stand. They are bound, as ,anti-Reformers, • to stand faithfully by their fellow "progressives" of the Federation. Wc have quoted one of the doctrines in which they are involved by thoir alliance with Mr. Semple's people. But'there are others. The Conference declared strongly against State-aided immigration as "a palpable design to flood the labour, market and aid the employers in,their attack upon the workers'—a policy which • the late "Liberal" Government advocated, and which their . now demoralised friends;'vuscd, very properly, to defend. When 'the vVaihi striko was nearing its. climax, we do not remember that tho anti-Reform press ran against tho overwhelming tide of public opinion, by suggesting that the' people of Waihi should not be: rescued from the lawlessness and terrorism of the strikers. .But tho opponents of the llefbrm Government nave involved themselves, by their injudicious sympathy with the Federation. Conference, in subscription to the opinion •that the Government and the police, were greatly blameable for'seeking to protect the (»mfort," property and; lives of the innocent citizens- of Waihi. ,Nobody need regret.that, in their eagerness 1 to use anything in sight as a weapon, the enemies of the Reform Government have blundered into a connection which they- will find it most embarrassing to dissolve. But jt is certainly to bo regretted that • legitimate trade unionism should have been tricked by its political leaders' into: opposition, to' national defence, immigration, and the maintenance of . law and liberty. The anti-Reform factions, however, have I doubtless weighed all the elements' of the situation, and they have decided that;their indignation at the position in which they find themselves :is sufficient warrant for allying themselves with Mr'. Semple and his fellow "progressives" and his remarkable ideas.';'.