STORMY MEETING OF UNIONISTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 37, 13 February 1913, Page 3

STORMY MEETING OF UNIONISTS

v " AUCKLAND, 12th February. There was a stormy meeting N of unionists at the Trades Hall last evening, when between 700 and 800 men gathered io hear three of the Labour leaders give In detail the results of the recent conference in Wellington, out of which was evolved the now organisation to be called the United Federation of Labour. Mr. Arthur Rosscr (secretary of a number of local unions) presided, and on the platform were Mr. Edward Tregear (of the United 'Labour Party's executive), Ml 1 . W.-E. Parry (vice^presi* dent of the New Zealand Federation ' of Labour), and My. L. Henry, (vice-presi-dent of the Hairdressers' Federation). Mr*. Tregear spoke for half ati hour, detailing very fully the work dohe at the recent conference. He said that he was just as much a believer in and supporter of arbitration to-day as ever. . He also made an appeal for united action by the wortters of the Dominion. Speaking of himself, he .said that he intended to devote the rest of ' his life to the Labour cause. He was too old for political ambitions. When the time carte for questions, the meeting became very disorderly. There were two distinct sections, and the word " scab " was hurled abouS freely* The chairman threatened to leave the chair, but the disorder continued' intermittently until the meeting ended abruptly with cheers for the United Federation of Labour. .