THE LABOUR CONGRESS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2198, 10 July 1914, Page 3

THE LABOUR CONGRESS

POLICY AND CONSTITUTION, /: ' • ■ ■ ■:■ ' ; : J; '; Tlie Labour Congress was resumed in the Masonic Hall, Boulcott Street, yesterday (the Hon. J. Rigg, M.L.C.; in tho chair), and the usual official report of the proceedings was supplied to tho Press at the ond of the day. A communication was received- from Iho National Peace Council asking for the co-operation of the conference in securing the ..repeal of the Defence Act. It was resolved that the conference endorse tbe resolution passed at tho Unity Congress in July* 1913. ; ' . Federation's Policy. Mr. H. Hunter read the recommendation of the committee, stating that the preamble of the Australian Federation of Labour had been recommended. After considerable discussion conference decided to- : adopt the recommendation of committee. The preamble is as follows :— "Whereas modern economic methods tend more and more to the complete control of the means of production by powerful .groups of capitalists with the consequent complete dependence of the community upon these few: . ; .-■•> "And the influence and power of capital, which is not confined to any one locality or any one industry or trade already extends to the entire industrial spliere of countries and continents, and bids fair before'long to embrace the civilised "world in its octopus-like grip: "And whereas tho interests of the workers are in grave danger from such causes: - : "And whereas under the present loose system of localised control of industrial organisation a successful struggle against thoso combinations of capitalists is almost hopeless:. "Therefore.it is expedient and necessary that there should be a closiiig-up of'the ranks of Labour, irrespective,of the industry in -which: the workers sire engaged or .the country in which they dwell, :in:6rcler that the workers may present'a united front to the capitalists, the power of concerted and well-'cohsidercd .faction, .wage-.success-fully the .battle of humanity against the power of wealth." It was resolved, on the voices that tho name "The United Federation of Labour".stand. .; The Constitution. At the. afternoon session the debate on the proposed constitution was resumed. ;. , ' "•'. ■■'.-'.■'■■■■ The following clause was referred back to the committee for redrafting: ■The unit of the organisation shall be the union. District councils may be established whenever three of more, unions are desirous of ) affiliating with' the organisation, provided that in the industrial centres of Auckland, Wellington,'- Christchur'ch,-' and r Dunedin , "there , Bhall be'.only:;one -district;"/- '..' ;.''- v -';,;. ■ The following clauses wero adopted:— "In isolated districts, or, wherever districts ..councils ■ are'"not' practicable.'-anx union 1 may affiliate .'direct, with 'the National Executive on the. nearest district council.' :.. . .\ -? ■*;■'"'• '■■ "Tho'executive, which shall consist of a president, vice-president, and sec-retary-treasurer, together witli aii exe-cutive-of nine members shall be the governing authority or. all matters involving the national body. . The members of t 'the executive, exclusive of. the officers <shall be'elected by. members of affiliated bodies • within each of the fol : ,lowing;':districts: Auckland (one member), Poverty Bay and Hawke's Bay (one member), Nelson and Marlborougli (one member), Buller.;.and.,Grey (one, .member); Canterbury. ;tonej ;mem.b'er)v Otago ;'.'(one member), .'and "■ •Southlarid (one member). : '', ■ -" ; '."'■■'"' ■"'■'' "The' National Officers.ehall be elected by. plebiscite,.of the '.whole momber-: ehip of-the United Federation,of La-: Lour by a preferential' system' of voting. \y r ".■.'.■ .':V.--> ',:■.-■ • ''District councils shall consist of delegates from ; trade and industrial unions, - and shall so far as practicable:; be organised and governed onHhe linesof industrial unions. '' ,- ■ ' :: " ' -. District Councils. ! . -■' "District councils/ shall have full power to deal, .with '■ all' matters coming within the province covered -by their affiliated unions provided that, all matters likely to involve the National Body'shall be! submitted' to, the/Ceiitral Executive for approval. They, shall' have poweY to appoint any-organisers; deemed to be' necessary v at; whateversalaries they may deem fit. ■.. '. ;' ; "Representatives: of' unions on' disj-. trict councils shall bo determined by the council itself." The powers of bodies affiliated to district councils weie under discussion when the conference adjourned at 5 p.m. ! '