BRITISH LABOUR CONGRESS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 297, 4 September 1918, Page 5

BRITISH LABOUR CONGRESS

FOUR AND A-IWLF MILLION MEMBERS REPRESENTED PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS (Ree. September 3, 7.20 p.m.)' London, September 2. Tho Trade Union Congress at Derby opened u'ith an attendance of 779 delegates, representing oyer 4,500,000 members. Mr. Ogdcn,' in his' presidential address, defended tho action of the Parliamentary Committee of the Congross in striving to make itself the central bureau for the British section o? an international trade union congress. Tho international trade -union movement was full of immense possibilities. The close co-operation of the political and industrial elements of the British Labour movement, as represented by the Parliamentary Com.mittee, was a matter of life and death for tho realisation of Labour's ideals. "Congress must uphold the Labour Party. We ought, after four years of war, to try to discovor a way to peace." He denied, that this meant a dis inourable peace, or a peace at any price, but a just poacp on lasting foundations. '''This war will not be the last unless the democracies take tho sceptre from the ilionds of those who in the past have had the power to unsheath the sword. Mr. Ogden advocated internationalism amongst tho workers in order that those who were doing tho bulk of the fighting might decide tho questiom of peace or war. He intended that the full significance of that statement should be appreciated in the enemy countries. He unhesitatingly welcomed the plea, for a peace atmosphere. If the workers remained solid and kept their vision clear they would soon see an industrial Canaan.. It was im-( possible to express anything but horror and detestation for Germany's jrimes, but .'their aim should be to get together and'settle tho disputes.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.