LABOUR CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 107, 30 January 1919, Page 6

LABOUR CONFERENCE

"A NATIONAL ALLIANCE."

The following national Labour, organisations were represented at the conference held in Wellington with the object of forming what is termed "a National Alliunco of Labour":—United Federation of Labour (Messrs. T. Bloodworth' and Hiram Hunter), Waterside Workers (Messrs. Eoberts and Glover), A.P.U. (Messrs. A. Cook and C. Grayndler), En-gine-drivers (Mr. ,T. Seid). .Drivers (Messrs. G. Davis and D. W. Coleman), Amalgamated Society of Engineers (Messrs. J. Dickson and W. J. Wills) •Painters (Mr. F. Cornwell), Bootmakers [ H- Cooper and F. N. Robson), A.&.R.S. 3fr. R, Hampton), Freezing Irades (Messrs. M. J. Eeardon and F. Niall), Miners W. E. Parry and W. Balderstone), Furniture Trades (Mr Y- K . e " ne JJy)» Carpenters and Joiners (Mr. W. Maddison), Tramways (Mr, J Hutchison), Moulders (Messrs. J. Thompson and J. Swanson). A committee consisting of the following \i-rs appointed to draw up a definite scheme :-JW.«js. T." Bloodworth, W Parry E Hampton, A. H. Cooper, J. Reid, J. Eoberts, A. Cook, and H. Hunter.

Tho conference commenced its sittings at the Trades Hall on Tuesday afternoon and after its adjournment at 5 p.m. the committee appointed to draft a basis of unity for all national unions, federations of unions and industrial departments met to draw up its report. The committee presented its report when the conference resumed yesterday morning, Mr. T. Bloodworth, national president of the United Federation of Labour, being in tho chair. The committee s report, which provided a constitution for an 'alliance of all national organisations, in the industrial field, was received and dealt with clause by clause, ftnd, after some minor alterations and additions, was unanimously adopted. A special committee is to draw up the constitution as a provisional executive and place the decisions of tho conference beforo the various.organisations as early as possible. _ The committee will appoint its own chairman and secretary. Mr. Hiram Hunter icformed a representative of Tnu Dominion that the conferenco was characterised by a unanimous desire to close up the ranks of Labour, nnd the constitution adopted, he said, niarks tho greatest advance made in this direction to date. It is a demonstration •of the desire of the organised trade unionists of the Dominion to combine into a solid phalanx to protect their rights, defend themselves from nny further inroads on their liberty, and prosecute the claims of their respective organisations for more equitable treatment in the matter of bettor wages nnd working conditions.

A resolution was passed bv tho conference to request, tho Acting Prime Minister (Sir .Tames Allen) to receive a deputation to-day, which deputation will roquest the Goyormnent to grant the release of all prisoners who havo been incarcerated on account of their objection to military service.