LABOUR CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2987, 26 January 1917, Page 5

LABOUR CONFERENCE

RESETTLING SOLDIERS AND MUNITIONERS (Itec. January 25, 5.25 p.m.) London, January 24. At the Labour Conference Mr. G. J. Waidle, M.P. (president) lead Mr. Lloyd George's telegram congratulating the conference on tho decision to share in the responsibility of directing the Empire's affairs. A resolution was adopted protesting against handing over to charity or tho recruiting authorities the resettling of soldiers and munitioners after the war, and deolaring that trades unions cooperating with reformed labour exchanges would be the best organisation to deal with the problem. Mr. J. Hodge, Minister of Labour, stated that he intended to use the trade union machinery to the utmost during demobilisation. Mr. .Bellamy moved oai behalf of the executive demanding that provision be made to protcot tho three million munitioners and other war workers, as woll as soldiers, and niging tho Government to formulate plans m advance. If discharged soldiers foil into the clutches of the poor law there would be a popular outburst of indignation. The resolution, was carried. Mr. Kirkwdod, one of the Clyde Labour leaders who was expelled from Glasgow at the instance of the military authorities, explained the circumstances of his deportation. Scenes of groat excitement followed, some delegates demanding that the Labour representatives he withdrawn from the Government unless Mr. Kirkwood and his colleagues were reinstated. . Mr. Arthur Henderson ended the scene by suggesting to the conference to institute an inquiry. Ho pointed out that the conforonco had heard one side only. He promised that tho Government would abide by the result of tho inquiry.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable-Assn. [Tho conference, at it's first sitting, endorsed the Labour members joining the Cabinet by 1,840,000 to 307,000.]