UNITY CONGRESS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1791, 2 July 1913, Page 8

UNITY CONGRESS.

LARGE ROLL-CALL.

MR: RIGG TO BE PRESIDENT.

FIRST DAY'S WORK.

THE PLATFORM QUESTION.

The July conference of the representatives of the various labour and kindred organisations of New Zealand commenced its sittings at St. Peter's schoolroom, Ghuznee Street, yesterday morning. The /capacity of the largo room was taxed to accommodate the four hundred representatives. Mr. W. T. Young, chairman of the Unity Congress Committee, took tlie chair, pending the election of a president of the congress. The chairman weloomcd the delegates, and wont on to say that it wa3 unnecessary for him to enlarge upon the importance of tho occasion.. They wero face to ;face with a very formidable foe that could only be mot by the solid organisation that'it was proposed to create at this conference. Tho Unity Committee had selected the Bon. Mr. Rigg to preside at the conference, subject of course to the approval.of the conference. (Applause.) President of Conference. The Hon. Mr. Eigg was -unanimously elected to preside over the deliberations, and was cheered as he took tho chair. He thanked those present for the honour. He had had an opportunity of assisting at tho conference in January, and therefore they could understand that, being interested in the work then done, he naturally felt desirous of assisting further in the work that had now commenced. If nothing bad been done as a result of the January conference, except to bring abo.ut the present gathering, they had reason to congratulate themselves. He need not tell them that this was the largest conference that had ever been held in Australasia. They must know that they represented over fifty thousand workers of Now Zealand and this fact must make them keenly sensible of the responsibility that rested upon those present, not only to uphold their position as delegates, but also the honour and dignity of the thousands they collectively represented. Ho could not for one moment conceive it possible that a conference brought; about as this was by the desire to do something for the welfaM of tho workers, could disperse without substantial good. (Xpplause.) Tlw wolfi have placed bereft! them reSblutioifc and proposals drawn up by the Un'<i%' Committee, but they could alter, ameSd, or reject them altogether, and still agree upon a working basis that would produce good results for the future. They could aereo upon one thing, and it was this: That the time has arrived when the workers shell govern themselves. (Applause.) Too long had the workers sat at tho feet of other'parties and been accustomed to beg from them benefits as favours which therr should take as their right—(cheers)—and it rested in their power to bring about some working arrangements which would enable them to accomplish that. (Applause.) Unity Congress Report. The repojt of the Unity Congress Committee was presented and taken as read. The report stated as follows:— "Since the.January conferencetlie Unity Committeo has been busily engaged in carrying out the work entrusted to it. Delegates who were present at the Janu<vrv conference will remember that the calling of the July congress was left in the'hands of tlio committee. As soon as tho conference rose the committee met and discussed the best means of making the July congress a success. It was de-. cided that tlie wisest course to adopt was to carry on an active propaganda by means of public meetings and by the distribution of. literature. This necessitated finance. In order to raise the amount required, an appeal was made to, tho unions upon the basis of 6Jd. per member for unions represented at the July congress, :ard 3d. for those not represented. This appeal was fairly well responded to. In connection with the literature camfiaign, in addition to thousands of leafets- explanatory of the basis of unity, a publication called tho 'Unity Bulletin,' edited by W. T. Mills, was issued free. Fifty thousand copies were scattered all over New Zealand. This was supplemented by speakers being sent to every town of any noto in New Zealand, including— Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch. Dunediu, Inverca'rgill, Wanganui, Napier, Hastings, Palmerston North, Nelson, Blenheim, Greymoiith, Westport, Reefton, Denniston, . Millerton, Ngakawau, Seddonville, Hokitika, Blackball, Runanga, Lyttelton, Waimate, Timaru, Port Chalmers, Te Kuiti, Foxton, Shannon, Tokomaru, Feilding, Huntly, New Plymouth, Stratford, Gisborne, Ngaruawahia, Thames, Itarangahake, Whangarei, Hikurangi, Warkworth, Rangataua, and Petone. "Wo havo to report that the deputation appointed by tho last conference waited upon tho Prime Minister and placed before him conference decisions in reference to the Arbitration Act, Constitution Act. Compensation Act, Emigration, Waihi and Huntly inquiry, and militarism. In the courso of his reply tho Prime Minister intimated that an opportunity would be given Labour to place its views beforo tho Labour Bills Committee during the present session. We -would suggest that the conference select a deputation for that purpose. Probably the most important work' of the committee was in carrying out the instructions of the January conference in drafting constitutions, rules, and platform for the United Federation of Labour and the Social-Democratic party. This entailed considerable labour, possibly much more than the conference anticipated. In its work tho committee recognised that unity was the thing to be accomplished,. and endeavoured, in with the magnificent spirit displayed in January, to draft a programme on which all could unite. The committee recognised, as we feel sure congress recognises, that unity cannot be secured by a section endeavouring to force its ideas upon any other section, but by free, full, and intelligent discussion upon the issues involved. We trust that this fact .will borno in mind by delegates when discussing the committee's work. We regret to have to report the resignation of R. S. Ross, an able and enthusiastic member of. the- committee, through his departure from the Dominion. We wish to acknowledge the harmonious spirit in which the members of tho committee worked together in an earnest effort to make tho July congress a complete success, and to draft a workable scheme of unity that would put an end for all time to tho sad spectacle of labour divided and practically helpless, confronted by an organised and powerful foe." This reDort was adopted at the afternoon session. . .. Congratulations. A cablegram was rend from tho Melbourne Trades Hall Committee, wishing tha congress success. An invitation to members of congress during their stav in Wellington was received from the Wellington Workinginen's Club. Status of Mr. Hanan, M.P. At the afternoon session it was reported that the Unity Committee had refused to accept Mr. Hanan, M.P., as a delegate from the Invercargill Bootmakers' Union, on • tho grounds that ho was not a member of any Labour body. Considerable discussion arose out of a resolution that Mr. Hanan be admitted as a member of the congress. Those in I favour of the .resolution contended that ' tlie* representation was purely a matter for the badv that chose siich representative. The opponents of the resolution argued that as Mr. Hanan was a memlvr of the Liberal Party he could not loyally represent the party, that was, that tho delegates wero present to bring into existence. Eventually the resolution "That Mr. Hanan's credentials Ik> accepted as representative of the Bootmakers' Union if Southland" was put to tho meeting. On n division b?ing taken the voting was: For the resolution, 20G; against the resolution, 158. Tho coujren also dcmdotl to allow the nonrotary of tho .Welliiurtoa Tinsmiths'

Union to represent the Auckland Tinsmiths' Union, whose delegate had "been taken seriously ill. Platform and Constitution. Mr. Young moved: "Thnt the first business of tho conference be tlie consideration of the constitution and platform of tho Social Democratic Party." Mr. Ralfo seconded the resolution. Mr. Carey moved as an amendment: "That, thei'o be no separation by wav of a distinct organisation of tho political and industrial activities of the movement." He considered tliat this question should be settled beforo proceeding to discuss the various clauses of tho platform and constitution. The cluiirmo.il ruled Mr. Carey's amendment out of order, as it really constituted a separate motion, which affirmed a principle foreign to the motion. Mr. Carey then moved as an amendment: "That we take the two sets of, programmes so that we can first decide whether there shall be separate industrial and political' organisations, or whether only, one organisation representing tho industrial and political sections." Mr. R-oardon seconded tho amendment. The method of the consideration of the platform and constitution evoked considerable discussion. Eventually the chairman stated that ho had been asked to allow the question 'as to whether there should bo 0110 organisation or two to bo decided. Ho said that lie could not put that question without the consent of tho meeting, but he would now ask them to decade whether they would agree to proceed to discuss the question of whether thore should be one or two organisations. Mr. Young pointed out' that tho -January confc-rence had decided that there should bo two distinct organisations. The decisions of that conference were submitted to the various organisations, and up to that moment tho Unit}- Committee had not received one objection to the proposals. Ho contended that tho delegates at this conference who did not believe in'the separate organisations had. really no right to be present. Several delegates asked for the chairman's ruling as to thcor standing. The chairman stated .that all he wanted was that the conference should decide whether the question of a single organisation should be discussed now, in • preference to tho previous business. On putting tho question to the conference, the voting tho discussion of one organisation, 149; against, 179. Political or industrial Question First? The original motion—"That the platform and tho constitution of the Social party be the first order of business"—'was then considered. Mr. Carey, with the consent of the conference, withdrew his amendment. Mr. Campbell moved an amendment: "That tho constitution of.the United Federation of Labour be first considered." He said that the industrial side of the question should be considered first. The industrial side, in his opinion, was of more importance, and a number of delegates might not be able to remain till the completion of .the conference. ■ Mr. F. Curtis seconded th<» amendment. This question wts put to tlie meeting, and the voting was—For consideration of political platform first, 105; for consideration of industrial platform first, 213. The amendment was therefore declared carried. , , ■ , , Mr. M'Lennan then moved: That only delegates representing industrial unaons be allowed to vote on tho consideration of the constitution of tho United Federation of Labour." Mr. Hunter seconded the resolution. ■At this stage tho conference adjournJd till this morning.