LABOUR UNITY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 1760, 27 May 1913, Page 3

LABOUR UNITY.

THE JULY CONGRESS.

BASIS OF UNITY. A circular of considerable importance relating to the forthcoming July Congress of Representatives of Labour Unions has just been issued to unions, over the signatures of Messrs. AV. T. Young, chairman 1 of tho Unity Congress Committee, and P. H. Hickey, secretary. Following is the full text of the cdrcular:— "In view of tho many inquiries mado regarding tho submitting of an agenda to the unions by tho Congress Committee, we deem it advisable to bring before the unions tho instructions given to tho Unity Congress Committee by the conference of January last. "Conference having decided upon a basis of unity, agreed to submit same to unions immediately for their consideration. That has been done, in addition to which authorised speakers have visited all parts of the Dominion, and placed findings of January Conference before tho people. On every occasion, we are pleased to report, the basis lias been uuanimously agreed to. "The duties of Congress Committee were to carry on an active propaganda campaign, and to draft constitution, platform, and rules, to govern tho organisations, to be submitted to the July Congress for their endorsement or otherwise. Tho basis. of unity, which is the crux of tho whole question, having been before tho workers, it was considered that if the unions gave to their delegates sufficient latitude to vote on questions of machinery before congress (the union itself having had tho basis before it) it would bo possible, indeed imperative, that without any further delay both organisations could be launched as going concerns. "The attention of unions is called to Page 41, Conference Report, containing t'ho resolution calling the July Congress, more particularly to tho section that reads: The sub-committeo to set out, afterwards to work out, an outline of constitution and rules, and report same to a joint conference composed of delegates of all unions adopting such outline of constitution.' This means that the unions which are irrevocably up against the conference and its findings, and are not prepared to unite, have no place at the July Conference. Unions adopting basis of" unity subject to such alterations as conference may decide, will, of course, bo heartily welcome. "Unions" will readily agree that whero some 300 delegates , have assembled together to discuss matters of detail,' they would be in tho best position to judge what -would be the most effective machinery to control the organisations after hearing the questions fully debated by representatives of all sections of tho workers. We bring this matter before the attention of unions in order that they mayi send their delegates with the fullest power possible that the. proposed organisations can be finally established."