Trade Union Congress.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 September 1922, Page 2

Trade Union Congress.

; A LABOR VIEW. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. LONDON, Sept.. 4. Air AVnlkar ,in his address to the Trades Union Congress, speaking of the conditions in Europe, said he had._ been astonished that the workers had waited so patiently the weary succession of Allied conferences on the reparations, indemnities and territories. Each conference was shelving the real issue. Each one was pretending to face the difficulties by disregarding them. Common sense, ho said, had not yet won, but it must win in the end. The Governments were learning that no real peace could be maintained with swords, nor was military bullying a proper substitute for reasonable and reasoned settlements. He pleaded for a revision of the Versailles Treaty, and for a. withdrawal of the Allied armies from the Rhine provineeu. He urged a re-establishment of goodwill oil the Continent. He could-support no plan seeking to duee Germany to the position rtf economic slavery. Ho could support nothing that would assist France to become a dictator of Europe. It was no use, however, to go condemning the French politicians, who were-struggling with their unbalanced budgets. He said they hungered to re-establish themselves as lords of Europe. Tliev had to serve tiie big capitalist interests. It was no use considering them while no accusing finger was pointed at the so-called statesmen in Britain! AYhat real evidence was there, he asked, that the British Coalitionists wanted a dean and honourable peace? - “We want this business settled, lie said, “and are going to have it settled. I do not believe there is any propect of a world settlement till the present -Coalition is driven* ion\ power.” , . The General Council’s report receded the membership of all Unions at a total of 5,127,308 as compared with 6 417.5)10 last year. The uelegates numbered 717, or 9 less than last* e *Mr Walker’s speech made little im-

pression on delegates. Miss Hartley, the- Mayoress of Southpont, arrived for the purpose ot officially welcoming delegates after Air. Walker spoke. Miss Hartley was too late to hear Mr Walker, AUss Hartley, in her speech, declared that wage-s were better, holidays longer and more frequent, die death rate halved, the status of >'omen improved, and the savings 9. workers' vastly increased. She mnndecl: “Why all this unrestf’ AUat ails the world?” She said they "5*9 •ill trying to obtain something I Sho defined «W»w g fishness was at the root of all . evil. They were asking for impossible tl The* delegates loudly cheered hep speech,