UNITY CONGRESS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1796, 8 July 1913, Page 6

UNITY CONGRESS.

THE SIXTH DAY. RAILWAY MEN DRAW OUT. THEIR OBJECTIONS. STRIKE CLAUSE UP AGAIN. Tho Unity Conference resumed its deliberations at St. Peter's Schoolroom, Ghuznee Street, yesterday morning, the Hon. J. Rigg presiding. Amongst the correspondence dealt with was a letter from M. J. Mack, general secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, as follows: — "Sir,—l am instructed by my executive who have been attending the Labour Congress, on behalf of tho above-mentioned society, to advise you that they have unanimously decided that, so far as they are concerned, no good purpose can be served by their continuing in attendance. Whilst they nppreciuto what the congress is endeavouring to do on behalf of Labour, there has already been adopted certain proposals which we could not either subscribe to ourselves, or recommend our members to adopt. Wo desire that you will place on record our appreciation of the able and impartial manner in which you, sir, are conducting tho business, and herewith enclose cheque for £5 to assist in . defraying the expenses which will necessarily bo incurred." The Strike Clause. Mr. Carey moved the addition to Clause 7, relating to strikes, of the words: "But tho National Executive shall not involve any industrial department, other than the department wherein the dispute has originated, in any strike, or extension of the strike, unless and until it shall bo fir,?t instructed so to do by a decision of the majority of members of such other outside departments." Mr. Carey said what he wished to secure was that in the event' of a strike in one department it could not be extended to another, until tho unions of the other department, in meeting assembled, or at general council, had decided that it should be extended. Ho considered that the Unity Committee should accept his amendment as it would leave the question of the extension of a strike solely in the hands of the members of the unions instead of in the hands of an executive.

Mr. S. Boreham (Dunedin Licensed Drainers) seconded the amendment. He had been instructed by his organisation to oppose tho clause as it stood.

Mr. M'Lennan (Waihi) considered that after a strike had been declared by tho uuions affected the other unions should obey the National Executive when tho striko was found to be justified.

Mr. Brown (Dunedin) pointed out tho difficulty of those unions who were registered under tho Arbitration Act. Imperilling Unity. . Mr. Scott said that if the strike clauses laid down by the Unity Committee were adopted, they could not say there was a unanimous opinion on the matter, and they would not have unity. Seeing that tho rank and file were the peoplo most concerncd, they should decide whether a strike should be extended. Ho could not see how tho amendment would bo weakening the power to strike. Mr. Moloney (Westport General Labourers) supported tho amendment.. He said that if they had no confidence in their officers then it would be better for them to ceaso to have organisations and go on their own. Miss Runciman (Dunedin Tailoress' Union) rose to support tho amendment. In connection with women's organisations, she said, the members did not remain members for a long period. They came an,d went quickly. Perhaps tho memberg of tho organisation know why? (Laughter.) Sho wished the congress to think what a strike would mean, to an organisation such as she represented. The organisation she represented was the largest of its kind in tho. Her trade federation was there for unity, and she loped that they would take nothing back that would repel the women's organisations. She desired the congress to look at the matter from 'a woman's point of view.

Air. Voyce (Lyttelton) wanted unity, but ho wag not going to agree to unity at any price. He thought that those organisations which were not registered would be the chopping-blocks of other organisations in the future. They had heard a good deal about "square deal," but he considered that those unions which were registered should give a square deal to unregistered unions by supporting them when they came out on strike. As this was the industrial section, if the strike clause was deleted, all their work would have been in vain.

Air. JS'at. Shorter (Auckland) was of opinion that the delegates must see that the Government intended to bring down a law that would make strikes illegal. Then'arbitration and other unions would all be in the same boat.

Mr. Noot (Wellington Tramways) supported the amendment. Ho considered the men who had to do the fighting should decide whether a light should take place. No ten or twelve men should have the decision of such an important matter." It was the desire of every man to say that unity had been accomplished, and, if the clause was carried as it stood, he was' certain that some organisations would stand out of the federation. A Woman's View. Mrs. Donaldson (Wellington Housewives) said that she had some diffidence in speaking, as she was practically a newcomer, but at a public meeting she had heard it said that, at the meeting of master tailors in Wellington, one of the masters had said: "Now wo can get along in our business, because we havo captured the Arbitration Court." _ Next, it would bo the master bakers, ana, eventually, tho "master" class who would control the Court. She urged them to build up an organisation that would so ' arrange its affairs that, when it had a strike, it would strike with unity, and be successful. (Applause.)

. Mr. Davis (Federated Carters) said that the Drivers' I'ederation, although all working under the Arbitration Act, had unanimously declared that the fctriko clauses must be retained. Mr. Justice Sim had told unions that they could expect no alleration of their conditions unless they could show that they, were entitled to it; but when the federation came into existence, Mr. Justice Sim forgot what he had previously said. II they formed an organisation it must be one with a sting in it. An organisation without a strike clause was of no use to the Drivers' Federation.

Mr. A. S. Richards (Gisborno Drivers) and Mr. It. F. Way (Auckland) both opposed tho amendment. Tho question being put, the voting wa3: For Mr. Carey's amendment, 95; against, 203. Safeguarding the Unions. , Tho Hon. J. T. Paul moved as an amendment, an addition to Itulo 7, "Provided always that every local union shall have opportunity, in accordance with its rules, to declare its decision on such locK-oul or strike." He said he desired Labour to have tho uso of every weapon for its industrial advantage, therefore ho favoured the retention of the strike, All ho wished by his resolution was to safeguard tlie unions against any invasion, no uratter who made tho invasion. He wanted to preserve to the unions the_ right to make their own decision, and if his motion was carried they could tell their uiltons that they wero niastKVs of tho situation. Ho wanted tho unions to act fully, so that whero there was a necessity rt union could act swiftly and decisively; but he did not want thfc -other unions involved by a national executive.

Mr. Eosser (Auckland) seconded tho amendment. He said it would be Futile tf tho national executive should declare a general strike before tho distinct 'ssue bad been placed before tho unions affected.

At this stage it ivas announced that the Unity Committee were prepared to accept Mr. Paul's addition. Mi'. O'Brien (Westlaiul Engine-drivers) opposed Mr, Paul's nmeudment. He said Jiat tlie effect' of llio resolution would

not allow them to work on an industrial union basis.

Mr. Hall (Timarn) opposed tho amendment. Ho said that tho strike clauses mado amplo provision as they stood. Mr. Jl'Brien (Auckland Waterside Workers) said tho amendment was in total contradiction to tho previous sections of Clause VII, and would bring about a condition under which, a striko, if it took place, would ba foolish and ridiculous. There was amplo provision in the clause as it stood. Mr. Dickinson (Dunedin Coppersmiths) supported tho amendment, ami suggested an addition to Mr. Paul's motion: "Provided that once a union declares a striko it shall not return until authorised to do eo by tlie National Executive." Mr. T. Armstrong (West Coast) objected to the motion, llie proposed addition said a union should decMo "in accordance with its rules." That was the point. Many of the unions were registered under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and their rules had to be approved by tho Registrar of Industrial Unions, and the Prime Minister would soon amend tho law so that unions would not be able to make rules that would enable them to support strikes. v Mr. M. J. Forde (Southland) supported Mr. Paul's amondment. Tho strike olauses had already driven out one of the biggest organisations—(Cries of ."No, no. They never intended to come in!")— and if a provision such as Mr. Paul's wcro not carried, he would go back to Southland and tell every union he represented not to touch the federation.

Mr. Mellington (Waikato) quoted from tho rules of a union at Huntly, which included men who were not workers. The rules said that two-thirds of the members had to deoido that tlioro should bo a strike—not two-thirds of the men employed, but two-thirds of the union, outsiders and all. There were also other provisions which would make tho matter of a 6trike an impossibility. Mr. W. T. Young explained that the Unity Committee were not agreed with regard to the amendment. Their desire was to link ut> the organisation so that tho weakest link would be equal in strength to the strongest, so that under thp organisation as proposed thero would not be as much need to eeek protection of the Arbitration Court as in the past. "Atmosphere of Suspicion." The Eev. H. S. Money (Christchurch) paid he- was opposed to the amendment. With regard to the general strike question, he desired the possibility of calling a general strike at a moment's notice, if need be, for tho reason that once they built up a solid organisation, and the employers saw that it was a solid organisation, the general strike would not need to bo used. Both amendments had tho same underlying principle. In the speeoh'es that he had listened to theTo was an atmosphere of suspicion. He had heard a good deal about the infringement of industrial democracy, The striko clause gave the nearest approach to industrial domocracy, as in times of war. They had an opportunity of electing their leaders. If they were going to suspect those leaders all the time, if they wero going to question their movements after they had elected tlnem, well, thev might as well go homo now. (Applause.) They must trust, further, not only their leaders, but their comrades. (Applause.) They wanted a spirit of brotherhood amongst the workers of this country. In the name of God, if th'ey said they wanted brotherhood, let them show by their actions that they meant brotherhood. (Applause.) He had a great deal about union rules which must not be broken, but they had got to break rules if necessary. (Applause.) If they had got any meaning in their claims to unity, what did it matter if one or two men >had to go down. They had to be prepared to make sacrifices for tho sacred cause —and it was a sacred cause in which they wero engaged. (Clieors.)

The question being put, tho voting was:— v

For Mr. Paul's amendment, 101; against, 190. Finance. » The clause dealing with finance, as follows, was next considered:— 1. Capitation shall bo payablo quarterly in advance as follows:—With a total national membership of 40,000 «or less. Is. 3d.; of 50,000, Is. 2d.; of GO,OOO, Is. Id.; of- 70,000, Is.; of 80,000, lid.: of 90,000, lOd.j of 100,000, 9d.; and at that rate for all larger numbers.

2. Capitation shall be payable by all local unions directly to the national secre-tary-treasurer, who 6hall forthwith allocate from those unions affiliated with both tho United Federation of Labour and the Social Democratic party GO per cent, to tho general fund of the United Federation of Labour, and 40 per cent, to the education and organisation fund, to be expended through the agency, of the Social Democratic party, and to bo paid.weekly as received, accompanied by full statements, to the national secretary-treasurer of that party. In tho .case of women workers who are members of organisations and who are receiving less than males, the amount payable shall bo onehalf the above rates.

3. Contributions so made to the educational organisation fund shall entitle all organisations for which such payments are made to all the rights and privileges of full membership in all local bodies of the Social Democratio party, and without further payments on that account to other local or national funds of that organisation. 4. Capitation from local unions not affiliated with the Social Democratic party shall be at the same Tate, and shall bo paid into the general fund of the United Federation of Labour.

5. Capitation shall be payable by any affiliated body on the number of financial members in the organisation, according to tho tulcs of such body. An affiliated body shall be deemed to be in arrears and out of benefits when, capitation is two months overdue for. any current quarter. 6. The national executive of the U.F.L. shall pay quarterly to the national executive of an industrial department a sum equal to Is. per member per annum for each member represented- by such department. .! 7 The. national executive of an industrial department shall pay quarterly to the executive of a local department a sum equal to 6d. per member per annum for each member represented by such local department. . . 8. It shall be permissible for unions to donate "from time to time, as tW think fit any sum or 6ums towards their local or'national department, such moneys to be used exclusively for organising purposes of such departments. , Mr. Young moved the adoption of the clause, and Mr. Campbell seconded. An amendment bv Mr. W. A. M'Lennan (Wailii Miners' and Workers' Union), to delete from Section 2 all the words from "treasurer" on the third line, to "party on the eleventh line, was lost by 265 votes to 26. • The Hon. J. T. Paul moved an amendment reducing annual fees by fifty per Mr. Bosser (Auckland) seconded the amendment. ■ ' Considerable discussion ensued. The opinion was expressed that many unions could not afford to contribute ss. per member per year. The supporters of the motion, contended that less than ss. per year would bo of no use in building up an organisation that would be effective. It was furthermore pointed out that this payment would be the only amount that the unions would bo called upon to pay— they would not have to pay into trades union federations, or 'anything of that sort, because the proposed organisation would absorb these federations. It was also pointed out that the organisation under the Federation would probably save a good deal of expense in union management. ' On division the voting was:—For tho clause as it stood, 227; for the reduction.

02. Mr. Cnnham (Auckland) moved an addition: "Provided that seasonal occupations, such as shearers, farm labourers, and slaughtermen may, at the discretion of the National Executive, affiliate on payment of 50 per cent of above capitation." ' Mr. Stovo Boreham (Dunedm) seconded the amendment, which was lost on t>o voting. . The Congress then adjourned till this morning. .