NO-LICENSE AND THE WORKERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2265, 10 August 1908, Page 2

NO-LICENSE AND THE WORKERS.

TRADES COUNCIL DISCUSSES QUESTION.

The question regarding the attitude of the workers towards no-license was raised at the meeting of the East Coast Trades and Labor Council on, Saturday evening, when a letter from the secretary of tlie Trades and J.abor Conference was- read, bringing under the notice of the Comn-eil a resolution passed by the recent conference, and asking that the said resolution be confirmed or otherwise—“ That the Conference urges the workers of theDominion to vote ‘no-license’ with a view of taking tbo trade under the control of the -State.” Air. T. 15. -Sweet considered that such a.motion should never have come belore the Couareil. Ttfwas completely outside tin- scope of the Council, and no good could result from its dis--cussion. They had no power t-o bind the workers to vote no-license or otherwise, and no matter wliat resolution, was passed on this subject, each individual person, would follow tho dictates of his own conscience, lie would not express his own opinion as" to nolicense or State control, but would like the Council to put the matter on one side. He would move tlmt the Council take no action in tbo matter. Mr. G. A. Marlow seconded the motion, and endorsed Air. Sweet’s remarks. A question was raised as to the,subject being political, and outside tlie scope of the Council, but tho President ruled that tho matter was a social and not a party one. Air. J. H. Hall moved as an amendment- that the resolution of tho Conference be confirmed. He did not consider no-licenso a remedy for :tho present state of tilings, for lie favored State control, but lie would at/ the present time vote no-license if it was likely to bring State control in its train.

Air. C. Catton seconded tlie amendment in a strong no-license speech.

After a. few further remarks tho amendment' was put and lost by seven votes to six, -and tlie motion was carried.