UNITED LABOUR PARTY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1800, 12 July 1913, Page 3

UNITED LABOUR PARTY.

DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES. STATEMENT ON PRESENT CRISIS. At a full meeting of the Provisional Executive of tho United Labour Party, held in Wellington yesterday, the following declaration was agreed to:— To tho Unions, Branches of the Party, and all Progressive People,— 'i'ne Unity Congress has met and concluded its sittings. Its most striking feature was the marked absence of any true spirit of -unity. The revolutionary section of tho congress never once consented to compromise. Victory alone was their goal, and every manoeuvre was resorted to to eifect their ends. At the conclusion of tho congress the delegates of the United Labour Party organisations assembled and fully discussed the grave position resulting from the decisions of the congress. Over sixty delegates were present, and of these 55 agreed that the United Labour Party should maintain its identity. This declaration is tho outcome of that decision. Tho United Labour Party organisations and the unions which favour an evolutionary policy, attended the Unity Congress, hoping and working for tho adoption of a sane, practical policy. The attitudo of tho Federation of Labour delegates amply proved that they have learned nothing and forgotten nothing. Tho experience of the past two years has taught them no lessons.' They beliovo as firmly in tho strike policy to-day as of yore, aud appear to be only anxious to extend that policy to every field of industry. . Wo wish to emphasise these points:— The congress was composed of delegates who had no instructions from their organisations on the constitutions submitted. The organisations had no opportunity to consider Or discuss those constitutions. The congress was compelled to pass the larger portion of the new constitutionswithout any consideration 'whatever. That part which was passed by congress was closured to such an extent that anything like full discission was impossible. Therefore the decisions of congress represent at most merely tho personal opinions of tho delegates present. "The final decision lies with the organisations and to those organisations we appeal. Wo declare that there is no warrant for saddling the unions with a capitation fee of is. per member per annum, which in large part is to provide for tho payment of salaries already fixed running into over .£2O per week—,£looo per year— with travelling expenses in addition. We affirm that this is an unjustifiable tax on the. workers of this country. We ask the trades unions to contrast this extravaganca with the economy of the United Labour Party, whoso capitation is fixed at 3d. per quarter, or Is. per member per annum.

We declare also that the conferring of autocratic power by tho new constitutions on the national executives is undemocratic and antagonistic to tho best interests of tSio Labour movement. The filching of control from unions and labour councils must necessarily act detrimentally upon the interests of tho workers and must ultimately bring about disastrous results from which it will take many years to recover. We decliire emphatically against the power given to tho new organisation to call unions out on strike. We say that no executive should have power to involve unions ill a strike against their will. The unions must, in our opinion, be masters of their own lrusiness. Th'e United Labour party stamls solidly for that principle.' The United Labour party definitely affirms the following basic principles as the moaning aud purpose of our movement:— 1. That our purpose and policy is evolutionary ami constructive in character,' and aims by constant revision aud improvement of existing conditions of society to advance tho well-being of the people as a wliolo and not merely tlie sectional interests of a class. 2. That we repudiate, as a party and as individuals, the i«licy and methods of revolutionary action put forwnrd under the various names of syndicalism, in-' dnstrial unionism, and direct action, under which, tho workers would be committed to planned' industrial' strife, stimulated class warfare, and the use of force instead of the process of law. 3. That we oppose most, strongly tho exploitation of the people by monopolies of oil kinds, and seek to organise all who are opposed to such exploitation into ono party. i. That in the field of industry our policy is to endeavour by means of conferences, conciliation and arbitration, or other methods of legal regulation, to effect the peaceful settlement of industrial disputes,, reserving tho strike only as a last resort.

5. That in the field of politics wo stand as a distinct party. Wo uphold the rights of tho people to tho fullest measure of self-government by the freo selection of their representatives,' both national and local. Our objeot is to establish by jaw and iust administration such conditions as will secure equality of opportunity to all and ensure that wealth created by society shall bo owned by society and used for the benefit of all, wlhila that produced bjr the individual shall be owned by the individual.

Wo firmly believe that this party smd this policy is best calculated to protect the rights- of tho workers and promote the welfare of the people of Now Zealand. We therefore appeal with every confidence to all affiliated organisations to steadfastly maintain tfteir allcgianco to the_ United Labour paVty, and cordially invite all other unions to throw in their lot with ns, and strengthen our hands in the fight for political and industrial justice. On behalf of tie United Labour party, J. T, PAUL, President.