UNITY CONGRESS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1799, 11 July 1913, Page 3

UNITY CONGRESS.

NINTH & FINAL DAY. MR. D. M'LAREN DRAWS OUT. TANGLED DISCUSSION. PROS AND CONS OF DEFENCE. The first Unity Congress, after a sitting lasting over nine days, came to a conclusion after G p.m. yesterday, and the usual official report of the day's proceedings was supplied. When Congress resumed in the morning (the Hon. J. Eigg presiding), Mr. J. T. Fox (Palmerston North S.P.) asked who authorised the chairman of the Unity Committee to stato in an interview to the press on Juno 28: "To meet the views of our No-License supporters, we are making provision that the bare majority vote should rule in all questions submitted to popular vote."

, In the absence of Mr. Young, Mr. H. E. Holland stated that it was the general feeling of the Unity Committee thainothing should be given to the press except by instructions of the committee, and he was sure that none of the Unity Committee thought that the statement by 11 r. loung should have teen made. The following telegram was received from Christchurch"At a meeting of Aduington Railway Workshops' Union members passed the following resolution unanimously:—'TVe strongly disapprove of the action of the railway executive in retiring from the Unity Conference and in divulging confidential information to press.'" "Ironical Cheering" Again. The following letter was received by the chairman from Mr. 1). M'Laren:— "Dear sir,—As I shall not be able to support the constitution already adopted by the Congress, it would be mere pretence for me to stay on and take further part in the proceedings. I therefore ask leave to retire." The letter was received with ironical cheering. The Fighting Platform. Clause 12 of the fighting platform was discussed. Tho clause read: "The repeal of the present inadequate Defence Act, and the creation of a citizen army on a volunteer basis, democratically organised with standard wages while on duty, which shall not be used under any circumstances in time of industrial disputes, together with practical measures for the promotion of peace." Defcnce Act Comes Up. Mr. W. T. Mills said that the present system of defence was totally inadequate. .All that had been, done under the Act was to persecute the son 6 of the active representatives of the working-class movement. What was wanted was a democratic. organisation, free from class distinctions. . the officers to be elected by the men. He considered that when men were taken from their ordinary, occupation to render military service they should be adequately paid. The German bogy and the Japanese scarecrow had been raised, but the first enemy they had to light wa9 the exploiting enemy within their own shores.

Mr. Fagan (Keefton) did not believe in compulsory training. He did not believe in the oath, but he believed that if this country was worth reforming it was worth fighting for. If they had been in Northern Australia like lie had they would be convinced that, there was a danger of a Japanese invasion. ' He said that if the Japanese did conquer this country it would be funny to see Professor Mills in the shafts of a rickshaw. (Laughter.)

Mr. J. M. Campbell moved as on amendment:—"That Paragraph 12 of fighting platform bo deleted, and the following substituted: 'That compulsory military training is essential to the successful defence of the country, but that the existing Defenco Act should be amended so as not. ttf permit' interference with parents in the dischargo of their .moral duties to their' children.'" He said it was tho unquestionable right of the parent to 6ee what hours and what company the boy should observe. When tho moral and military training' came in conflict the moral should bo supreme. Ho had listened to wild and unreasonable diatribes at street corners; but they must be convinced that if the country was worth having it was worth defending. If the present Act contained objectionable provisions that was no reason why the whole of the Act should be swept out of existence.

"Against the Workers." Mr. Kelly seconded the amendment. llr. linsom (Fabian, South Christchurch) said that compulsory military training was against tho best instincts of the British Nation. He did not believe that compulsory training was tor defence at all, but for aggression, for Mr. Allen had made it clear that he was wiiiing to send an expeditionary - force outside the Dominion. It was useless to say that tho authorities would not send theso boys outside the Dominion to fight. It had been done before. He could not understand how any man, whother he was a revolutionary, evolutionary Fabian, or Liberal could support militarism, which was always against the workers. , . _ , ~ Mr. Nat. Shorter (Auckland Waterside Workers) he was in the House on Wednesday'night, and ho heard a plain statement that IN'ew Zealand, would be prepared to send 10,(KJ0 soldiers abroad if required. He supported tho motion. Mr. Voyce (Lyttefton) opposed militarism, and the present Act, as a parent. He was convinced that any child, under the present system of military training, would soon imbibe such a subserviency to military command that they would not ,bo able to knock it out for twenty years. Military training crushed out the noblest instincts of tho human race, and developed a brutal instinct in its place. He was absolutely convinced tliat the military development in this country was but to crush out industrial development, 'l'liey must have nothing to do with the curse of compulsory training. Air. Melling (Waikato) said he know more on the Yellow Peril than Mr. I'agan. There was a "Yellow Peril" —it was the cheap labour phrase of it—and they saw how that "Peril" faced them after white blood' had been shed in South Africa. It was used by the capitalists to crush out the white workers. There was also a military "Yellow Peril," but who ■ built it and educated it? It was being built up and educated by British officers. He was opposed to militarism. Mr. M'Carthy (Dunedin) said that while they were discussing that question a Britisli warship had seized a port in Guatemala, to pay a debt due to the financiers of Great Britain. He called upon them to carry the motion as printed.

Mr. Tregear 9aid that he bated the spirit of militarism. With regard to compulsory training, he could not see why it should be thrust on New Zealand subjects in the.interests of the British Empire, when the United Kingdom did not havo compulsory training. With regard to the Yellow Peril, they had 32 millions in Japan inflated with a desire for the inasterv of the Pacific. Ho had fought for New Zealand fifty years ago against barbarianism, and he did not think the old fighting spirit Was dead. The antimilitarists had a. grievance re Eipa Island and prosecutions of boys; but that was beside the subject. Ho regarded tho British flag as being an emblem of a long line of glorious traditions. They had a freedom of speech and a freedom of thought under the British flag that they could not got under the Balkan flag. He had been born under tho British flag, and hoped to die under the British flag. He favoured the resolution. Mr. Ferguson stood for some sort of compulsory military training, and favoured tho whole of the people doing the iVork, instead of a portion of the people. He was in favour of a referendum, and, if it was taken, he was convinced that.7s per cent, of the people would vote for military training. Scientific Peaco. Mrs. Blundell (Ep-ow. U L.P.) stated

that she was opposed to the Defence Act ou scientific grounds. 'l'hey had war conducted 011 scientific grounds, but never onco had peace been conducted on scientific grounds. She was therefore totally opposed to the Defence Act as it stood. But sho had decided to support the motion in order to have unity. They had heard a good deal about the boys at Kipa Island, and she was proud to have headed the deputation to Parliament. She wished to point to a phrase that had not been touched upon with respect to the boys. Sho pointed to the harm that would occur at the most impressionable age. At' this stage Mr. Forde (Southland) proposed tlie adjournment of the debate for consideration that day. twelve mouths. The motion, was lost. Mr. P. H. Hickey said that every delegate had made up his mind, and he ventured that every delegate in touch with the world's working class movement would vote for the motion. He was not going to accept the statement of one speaker that 75 per cent, of the people would vote in favour of the Defence Act. That was nothing. It did not mean that it was right on a referendum. "Preference to Unionism" and even "Trades Unionism" ought to bo turned down. 'l'hey could not always bo satisfied with counting heads. But no working-class movement, no working-class leader, upheld conscription. The reason of the Japanese exultation over the Russians was because the whites had isolated the Japanese, looked upon them as an inferior product, and naturally the Japanese exultated over the defeat of a white race. The amendment was lost.

Working Class Defenders. Mr. F. Cook (Socialist Party) moved, as a substitution for portion of paragraph xii, "We express ourselves strongly against arbitration, as this movement is international. This congress of workers considers the linking up of the workingclass movement of all countries the best possible defence for any, or all, countries." He said that ho wished to sound an international note. The working-class movement in all countries was opposed to the military movement. They were in danger of peril from the landlord and people of their own class. In South Africa it was pot the Japanese who had shot down the ivorking strikers. It was the conscript tnd the volunteer. So it was at Waihi. Tho cause of tho workers was an international cause.' They had their enemies in this country right here. Let them stand up and fight. • The amendment was lost. Mr. H. Barrow* moved an additional clause:—"That the youth of New Zealand tihall commenoe learning military duties for the purposes of defence, while at school, training to commence at 10 years of age, and all equipment to bo supplied by the State." The amendment was lost on the voices. Mr. Drummond (Wellington Sheet Metal Workers) moved that an additional paragraph should bo inserted, proclaiming Idt national prohibition. 'The motion was lost on tho voices. General Platform. Mr. W. T. Young proposed: "That consideration of the general platform stand over till next congress, and that \ve__now proceed to consider Article G—"Oiucers and their duties." Mr. Fox (Palmerston North _ S.P.) seoondedi the resolution, and it was carried. . The general platform, consideration 01 which was thus held over, deals with electoral, industrial,- Department of Labour, arbitration, land, education, mercantile, and social matters. Article B was agreed to. It dealt with tho duties of officers. Clauses i and 5 were as follow:—

"The secretary-treasurer shall .receive all funds, give receipts for tho same, account for tho same to the National Executive and to all affiliated bodies, shall bank all funds, draw all cheques, countersign tho same as directed; shall receive, tabulate, and transmit all reports from unions or othor affiliated bodies for the National Executive, and, together with the president, shall sign all official documents on behalf of the National.Executive. He shall furnish a fidelity guarau.tce to -the sum of *£200. The jNational Executive shall-have general supervision of the organisation, and shall watch vigilantly over its intevests,.. and it .shall be assisted in its work by all unions and other bodies alfiliated with tho Social Democratic Party. It shall have control of the officers of tho party, and thej; shall engage in no public movement without its consent."

Paragraph 3, of Clauso 10, dealing with representation in tho National Congress (which was left by the Unity Committee for Congress to deal with) was carried, as follows:—2so members or less, 1 dolegate; 250 to 750, 2 delegates; 750 (o 1500, 3 delegates; 1500 and upwards, 4 delegates: Under no circumstances shall an organisation be entitled to more than four delegates, the voting shall be upon the basis of one delegate, one vote." Clause XII (finance): On the motion of Mr. Shorter, the contribution of affiliated bodies was made Is. quarterly, payable in advance. The constitution and platform of tho Social Democratic Party were then agreed to, the voting being: For the constitution, 175; against, 51.

Efection of Officers. The election of officers resulted as follow President, Mr. E. Tregear; vicepresident, Mr, H. Hunter; general organiser, Mr. W. T. Mills; secretary-trea-surer, Mr. P. Fraser; deputies, Messrs. R. F. Way, M v ßrian, M'Carthy. The salaries were fixed at the same'as those of the industrial section. i Final Business. The clearing up of business included consideration of the' list of notices of motion, published in Monday's Dominion. Mr. Belcher's motion re Mr. Earnshaw'a appointment was carried. Mr. J. A. M'CuUough's motion re the Public Trust Office was carried. On the motion of Mr. H. Scott Bennett, seconded by Mr. W. T. Mills, it was resolved: "That this conference, representing 50,000 workers, protest against tlie attempt being made to interfere with free, oompulsory, and secular education." Mr. Semple moved: "That the delegates assembled hero pledge themselves to the findings of the congress, and will, on their return to their respective unions, do all in their power to convince the members of their unions to join'the Federation of Labour anil the Social Democratic Party." The resolution was carried. Mr. Semple also moved that a petition bo circulated by the delegates demanding thlo release of the boys detained at Ripa Island, and protesting against their treatment. This was carried. Mr. Belcher's resolution' demanding aa alteration in tho constitution of the law so that tho shipping in New Zealand should come under local control and not be amenable to the Imperial authorities, was carried. The "Maorfland Worker u'as made the official organ of the Social Democratic The resolution (previously published) re the Royal Commission's finding in regard to mines was also carried. Presentation to Chairman. Jlr. w. T. Young, on behalf oi the delegates - assembled, presented tho chairman (tho Hon. J. Rigg) with on enlarged photograph of tho delegates to th® conference, and a purse of sovereigns, which had been subscribed by the delegates attending the conference. The latter was not only a presentation from the delegates, he said; but was a general recognition through them on behalf of the whole of the workers in New Zealand, tf the magnificent services of tho hcmourablo gentleman in the cause of Labour. Mr. Rigg, who was greeted with prolonged cheering, thanked them for their presents. Ho keenly appreciated the spirit of the gift. He had been fighting for the Labour cause for 20 years, and during the whole of that time lie had never despaired. Ho now looked forward to a brighter day, and awaited its coming with pleasure. (Cheers.) ... ■ After the variouß officers had returned thanks for their election, the conference closed.

TRANSPORT WORKERS. A meeting of delegates representing ilie transport workers of the Dominion was held, last evening at the Trades Hall. Mr. H. Hunter (Christcliurch) presided over a gathering of about 50 delegates. It ivas resolved that a transport workers' department under the united scheme of the United Federation of Labour be formed. The following officers were appointed President, Mr. E. Canham (Auckland); vice-president, Mr. L. Glover (Wellington); secretary and traasurer, Mr. J. F.urtell Messrs.

A. S. Richards (Gisborne), H. R. Voy'-e (Lytlelton), 11. Hunter (Christchureh), W. Mollis (Ditnedhi), and J. Cameron (bhi'f); deputies, Messrs. C. Weaw-r and U. M'Brine (Auckland), A. S. Rogers and | W. Cass (Wellington), F. Church and T. Green (Canterbury), S. Anderson, and D. Max\vell (Otago and Southland); national representative on tile Social Democratic' Party 'executive, Mr. T. Green (Christ church).