UNITY OF LABOUR
PROFESSOR MILES VIEWS
Professor W. T. Mills, organiser of the Eabour Party, spoke in optimistic terms of the party’s future, in the course of conversation with a Eyttelton Times reporter on Monday. Considering the lack of organi sation and the almost entire lack of a national campaign, he said, he thought that the results achieved by the Eabour Party at the recent election could only be rsgarded as remarkable. He himself was the only national campaign speaker who visited the various districts, and he delivered over 300 addresses during the campaign. He felt certain that there would not be another electiou until three had elapsed, and during that time no efforts would be spared in properly organising the Eabour Party, which would then assuredly be a power to be reckoned with.
As a result of what had already been done, about one thousand names had been secured for the organisation of a housewives’ union, which it was expected would be established very shortly. There was also the nucleus for a working farmers’ union, the proposition being supported by a large number of large landholders and also by those who were anxious to obtain laud but were unable to do so. It was considered that the scheme would satisfy the land hunger, and be also in a manner absolutely just to the land holders, thereby securing their support instead of their opposition. About three-quarters of the trades unionists had endorsed the unity proposals, by which it would be endeavoured to confine all trades unions and public organisations lor Eabour into one national- body. What would probably prove to be the largest and most representative Labour conference yet held in New Zealand would be held in Wellington during Easter week. There would be conterences of single trades unions and of groups affiliated under the national or gauisalion scheme along lines of industries. For instance, the builders would have a separate conference, and the iron-moulders another, and finally there would be a consolidated conference. Under the unity proposal a direct fight would be made to secure the Labour Party’s dominance in the next Parliament. The scheme was undoubtedly a workable one, and would in all probability have an appreciable effect on the success of the Labour Party. Professor Mills said that he saw such great possibilities for Labour in New Zealand that he could not leave the country. He would certainly remain until after the Easter conference, and there were strong possibilities that he would stay in New Zealand until the 1914 election to fight in the interests of Eabour. “Although,” he remarked, “I will have to go home for a few weeks for the presidential election, for I cannot miss that. However, I will work my hardest to convince the people of New Zealand that Labour is the thing. Many of them in fact, the majority —are of the opinion, and only want the situation explained to them a little more to influence their votes.”
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Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1093, 13 January 1912, Page 4
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496UNITY OF LABOUR Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1093, 13 January 1912, Page 4
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