LABOUR CONGRESS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 92, 20 April 1911, Page 2

LABOUR CONGRESS.

YESTERDAY'S BUSINESS. [BY. TELEGRAPH — PBESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, 19th April. The Trades and Labour Conference resumed its sittings to-day. The president (Mr. Reardon) was requested to confer with Mr. Webb, president of the Miners' Federation of Labour, as to a conference fo.r the purpose of considering amalgamation. At a later stage the president reported that he had conferred with Mr. Webb, who was unable to get members of the Miners' Federation to Christchurch in less than a week's time. The best he could do was to consult members of the executive on the Coast and telegraph the best suggestion they could made regarding the proposed conference. NEW ZEALAND LABOUR PARTY. By 9100 to 3100 it was decided that the conference be represented at the conference'of the Ne\v Zealand Labour Party. Messrs. Reardon, Paul, and Horning were appointed a deputation to wait on that conference. CONSTITUTION AMENDED. A lengthy discussion ensued on a remit proposing that the constitution be amended to provide that the objective Bhould b8 "Socialisation of the means of production, distribution, and exchange." As an amendment. Mr. M'Laren, M.P., moved, "That the general, objec- ' tive of tho federation should be public ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange by means of democratic reforms enacted and administered in the interests of tho- 'collective body of the people." This was agreed to by 12 votes to 6. A further amendment was proposed by_ Mr. Breen as follows : — "To maintain upon the statute-book all progressive legislation that has already been enacted, and to insist upon its sympathetic and proper administration; to onact comprehensive measures, and establish such conditions as will foster and ensure equality of opportunity, also the moral, material, and educational advancement and general comfort and wellbeing of the whole of the people, based upon the gradual public ownership of all means of production, distribution, and exchange." This was agreed to by 11 to 7. When put as a substantive motion, Mr. W. T. Young contended that Mr. Breen's proposal was no objective at all. It was a string of inconsequential objects of a wishy-washy character. Ho complained that he had been trapped by Wellington and Dunedin delegates. The procedure followed was disgusting, and was iof a sort that drove men out of the movement. He would move a further amendment that the three proposals -which had been submitted to the conference be referred to a plebiscite of the unions. Mr. Horning seconded this. Mr. Whiting raised a point of order that Mr. Young's amendment was out of Oi-dei% The chairman upheld this objection. Mr. Breen-'s motion was carried on the voices. Mr, Young then gave notice of motion in terms of his amendment. A Temit proposing the deletion from the constitution of the clause dealing with political action was agreed to. REGISTRATION. The incoming executive was instructed to apply for registration, of the federation uilder the Unclassified Societies Act. HOLIDAY POLL 1 . The conference congratulated the Wellington Trades Council on securing a poll on the Saturday half -holiday question, and wishing it success. The conference will resume to-morrow.