UNITY CONGRESS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1794, 5 July 1913, Page 7

UNITY CONGRESS.

FOURTH DAY. SETTING UP A PLATFORM. PLANK BY PLANK. OBJECTS & MEMBERSHIP. Tha fourth days' business at the Unity Congress opened yesterday, the Hon, J. Eigg presiding; The platform. of the' fedoration was first dealt with, tho planks and objects being as follows: — V To secure employment of our members in preference to non-unionists; to maintain a spirit of fraternal sympathy with the workers of this and ' other countries by assisting thorn when •necessary. 9. To use our united efforts to discouraga tho contract labour and bonus sya- . terns, and as Boon as possible to abolish these, believing tho 6aid systems , to bo detrimental to the best interests of organised Labour. 8. To enable and provide for ike federation to own, publish, and tontrol a . newspaper or newspapers. | l. To ensure to members who are proved to have been unjustly treated the support of the federation. ' 5. To link up with the industrial, organisations of all other countries for the achievement' of international solidarity, and also for more effective work-ins-class aotion in time of international conflict. 6. The United Federation will always act - with the end in view of securing to the workers the . full product of their labour. Industrial Democracy, Mr. Hickey moved the adoption of the following olause, to replace Clause 6 of the objects: "To organise systematically and scientifically upon an. 'industrial union basis, in order to assist the overthrow of the. capitalist system, and thus bring about a co-operative commonwealth based upon industrial democracy." Mr. Thurston (Canterbury Metal Workers) seconded the resolution. Mr. M. J. Eeardon (Wellington) opposed the substitution for Clause 6. He considered that the Unity Committee, by this clause, were only endeavouring to get in by a back door the substance of a motion that had been defeated on Thursday. Mr. Canham (Auckland Waterside Workers) supported the motion. He was conTinced that in twelve months' time, as a result of education, the preamble that was rejected the previous day would be adopted by the Labour Conference. Mr. Sullivan YChristchurch) said he had voted against the preamble, and he was certain that Mr. Keardon was wrong in imputing any motives to the Unity Committee with respect to Mr< Hickey's motion. . The members of congress jvho had supported the preamble! had taken their defeat gracefully. ■He considered that there was a big wave. of. Sooialistio thought in the conference, and he urged them all to accept the resolution. The motion, was carried on the voices, With few dissentient voices. ,

Labour Newspapers. With respect to Clause 3 (referring to • newspapers), Mr. Mack moved a substitute clause: "To print and publish a paper to be hereafter named by the federation, and to establish, print, and publish magazines, papers, .publications,. and rlitoratur-o.,generally ; jis~ may be .conducive' to the oarrying out of the objects of the federation.' Mr. Wilson,(Auckland Sellmongers) seconded, the amendment. ■ Mr. H. E. Holland warnedthe confer-- ' ence that any newspaper venture must be. on a sound financial basis. At the jre- , sent time they had an established newspaper, and Clause 3, as .it stood, would enable them to take over that paper if they wished. Mr. Tregear contended that the proposed clause was no improvement on the Unity Committee's proposals. Tie question' beinj put, the clause, as printed, was agreed to. Allusion to Huntly Case. 1 On Clause I.—Mr. Melling (Waikato) moved the addition of the words "and to resist by more modern methods the vindictive victimisation that is now being practised.". At Huntly they • had a "scab organisation illegally formed, and to get it .formed 43 men had been ■ victimised. The Huntly people had endeavoured to got redres3, and had even presented a largely-signed petition to- the Government. As a result of the petition, Mr. Newton visited Huntly, and agreed that victimisation had been practised, later, Mr. Newton had written asking for particulars. - Mr. Allison had prabtically ■ threatened . that if the union did iiot get on well 6ome of them would have to go. ; Mr. Myall seconded the amendment. Mr. Ford (Southland) supported the clause as it stood. , Clause i, as printed, was agreed to, I Labour in Politics. Mr. Horning (Auckland Painters) moved to add to the objects: "To assißt the Labour in Politics movement." They made a special clause of it in the Aus- . tralian Federation, and ho thought they should have it in here.

Mr. l'ardington (Auckland Plasterers) Becondeil the motion.

On division, the voting was: For the motion, 146; against, 170. -

Mr. Way (Auckland Coopers) moved a new clause: "To establish a legal bureau that will supply free advice on industrial" to all the members, and provide legal representation at a moderate, cost." Mr. M'Cullough seconded the resolution. The new clause was carried on the voices. Air. Fonder (Land Values league) moved: "That the objects be amended by adding that the United. Federation of Labour will always act industrially and politically, with a view to securing to the workers the full product of their labour. He contended that they did not come thoro to fonn two bodies to act independent of one another, but to form one body, with two wings, that would act co-operatively. Mr. Withy (U.L.P. Executive) seconded the resolution. Mr. H. T. Armstrong (N.Z. Federation of Labour Executivo) opposed tho resolution. Ho said the question of separate industries and political organisations had been settled on Thursday. The chairman said that Mr. 'Armstrong •was mistaken. Tho motion had nothing to do with the question of separate or. ganisations. Mr. M'Manus supported the resolution. He had voted for two separato organisations, but not with tho idea that they should not wcrk together. He thought ail along that tho industrial section should help the political section financially and morally, if necessary. Tho motion was lost, the voting being: For the motion, 92; against, 212. The objects as amended were agreed to on the •voices. Basis of Membership. The membership proposals were considered as follow:— The United Federation of Labour shall be composed of actual wago-enrners brought together in an organisation embodying industrial departments as follows 1. Each department shall cover some industry such as tho mining, transportation, the building trades, and the.like; but after tho last day of June, 1911, no national industrial department shall be entitled to representation on the National Executive unless tho unions belonging to it shall have an aggregate membership of not less than B. Thoco workers or unions of workers within any trade or occupation, like tho engine-drivers or general labourera, whose work identifies them with many industries, may elect whether to join the department of miscellaneous trades or to join the department of the industry in which for tho time being they may be employed. 8. In any event all such workers, in the case of Industrial dilutes in any w-

dustry in whioh for the time being they may be employed, shall act with, and (on showing themselves in Rood' standing in their own organisation) shall have full voice in the industrial department in which thoy are at the time employed, and shall be bound tyy whatsoever aotion may be taken by such a department, whether looal or national. 4. All local unions shall affiliate with tho United Federation of Labour through the National E»!cutlvo. : All such unions as were represented at the Unity Congress at Wellington beginning July 1, 1913, shall be held to be eligible to membership, and on payment of one pound (~1) for issue of oharter and of the first quarter's dues . at any time during the first aunrter beginning July 1, 1912, shall be (riven charters without any other formal aotion. Other unions may at any time affilinte on the same terms, and on making a declaration of loyalty to this constitution. 5. Charters shall bo issued 1 to all bodies affiliated with this organisation, and shall be made to cover the Q uar Jfr only for whioh payment is made. On issuing any charter, the national seo ■ retary-treasurer shall at once receipt for the same in duplicate and forward to both local and national departments credential cards for the quarter covered. 6. In all subsequent payments of capita- , tion a receipt shall be given in duplicate, one • for the books of the union and tho other to be attached to tho face of the charter; and no charter shall be deemed to be in force if the receipt on its face shall show the organisation to bo in arrears for over two months of any current quarter. 7. Certificates of. membership shall be provided' by the naticvj>al executive for all Individual members of unions, when desired by the unions of whioh they are 'members, showing In the same way the financial standing of the individual members of such unions from week to week as contributions are regularly made, and, where such . certificates are in use, no individual shall be deemed to be in pood standing if his membership certificate shall show him to be in arrears in his _ accounts. . B.'All charters shall always be the property of the National Executive, and shall be returnable on demand to that body. But all unions whose ch'arte? may be so revoked for acting contrary to this constitution may appeal for and 1 shall be given a rehearing by the National. Executive. In the 6ame ' way, any person expelled from any affiliated union may appeal to the I National Executive. In either case, the action of the National Executive on any such appeal, either from a union or an individual, shall be final. Mr. W. T. Hills explained the clauses in detail. ■ As near as it was possible, he said, in drafting the membership re-, filiations, the committee had taken the Federation of Labour and tho United Labour party rnlra together where possible. "Class Conscious Document." Mr. R. Semple seconded the resolution. He heldi in his possession a. "class conscious document, the Employers' Association's report. In that dooument there was no question of allowing the wageearners to enter the Employers' Federation. He qudted from the report to show that in all cases they had advocated loyalty to tho cause. Mr. Pryor, the paid officer, not the agitator, of the Employers' Association, nad. in Ibis annual report stated with regard to strikers: "I think you will concede it is not practicable to put these men in gaol, and the best way to get at'tfrenwa through their pockets, and if in addition they are disfranchised, both municipally and politically, then you get 'as near a settlement as you possibly can." That wouJd demonstrate ,to the workers the fact that the employers were determined to tie the hands of the wage-earners if they could, and had established the fact that tho employers were federating as a class to figflut the working olass. , 1 Mr. M'Laren entirely agreed with Mr. Mills and' Mr. Semple that an industrial organisation, should only include wago workers. He desired to move an amendment which' the clause clearer. 'He'moved' 'tho insertion after tho word "embodying" of the following:—"Local unions, national fedoration of distinct trades, services or occupations, district councils." After discussion tho amendment was lost. . -

Paragraph I—Tile Hon. J. T. Paul moved the deletion of the words "of one pound for issue of charter and"'. He considered the charge of £1 before the issue of a charter would be a real tax on small unions.

Mr. Downoy seconded the amendment, which waa agreed to. Mr. N. Snorter (Auckland Waterside Workers') moved the following addition to Clause 4: "Individual wage-earners tvihlose unions do not affiliate as a whole shall be allowed to affiliate direot in that industrial department of the industry in which such individual wage-earners are employed." ,

Mr. E. Canham (Auckland Waterside Workers') seconded the amendment. ~ The amendment was lost, tie vvjing being: For, 113j against, 117. \ Mr. Power (Inangahua Miners') moved a new clause to replace Clarase 8t "All charters shall be the property of the national executive, and shall be returnable on demand to that body. All unions whose charter may be so revoked for acting contrary to the constitution shall have tho right to have their case decided b.v a referendum of the other unions.affiliated to the organisation, whose decision shall be final. Any person expelled from an affiliated union may appeal to the national executive, whoso decision shall be final."

Mr. J.- Moffatt seconded the amendment. Tho amendment was accepted by tho Unity Committee, and carried on the voices.

Mr. Carey moved that Seotion 10 of membership 100 reconsidered, so as to add to Clause 3 the words; "Provided thiair own special trade federation shall agree to such notion." On division the motion was lost ljy 83 votes to 219, Section IV as amended was then agreed to. Fiflht for Grey Seat. Mr. P., C. "Webb, who wbb leaving for the West Coast, then addressed tho meeting. He said he was disappointed at having to leave the congress. The fight for. the Grey would be fought out Absolutely on the platform of the Social Democratic party. If they were not sufficiently organised to secure politioal victories on the strength of their working-class organisation, then they should not adopt any other means to win. If they stood Wether in working-class solidarity, the Massey Government was doomed at next election, It was their united duty to fight against the unjust treatment of the boys on Hipa Island, and, outside or inside of the House, he would do all he could to stop this inhumane treatment 'of the boys of the Dominion. He concluded his remarks by urging them to stick together, in spite of the capitalist press and the capitalistic class. Three cheers were then given for Mr. Webb. [Owing to extreme pressure on -space a short portion of tho report referring to "Schedulo of Departments" is unavoidably held over till Monday.] In the report of Thursday's proceedings, Mr. Conchie (Wanganui Labourers) was stated to have supported tho preamble. Mr. ponohie wishes .it recorded that he opposed tho preamble.