THE LABOUR UNITY CONFERENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1120, 10 July 1913, Page 2

THE LABOUR UNITY CONFERENCE.

RAILWAYMEN WITHDRAW,

The president of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants (Mr W. T. Wilson), explained to a reporter the reasons why the executive of the Society, which represents eight thousand railway men, determined to have nothing more to do with the Unity Conference. The presidents statement suggests that a substantial number of moderate Labourites in the conference are gravely di; satisfied with the manner in whic the extremists in the matter of in dustrial action have gained th-. control of the organisation. “ We were in favour ot moderate, not extreme methods,” said Mr Wilson, “ and it was with a view to effecting a reconciliation between the extreme moderate onj the one hand and the extreme section on the other that I and thei executive council of the society attended the conference. We found, from the outset that the mere consideration of arbitration tactics would not be entertained. We found also from the outset that it was ‘strike first; strike second, and strike all the time,’ and while we. were prepared to compromise, the throwing out of the amendment brought forward by Mr Hampton and Mr McLaren providing that before a strike took place the people who were going to suffer by the process should be consulted, satisfied us that there was no hope of compromise on reasonable lines. In view of recent occurrences we consider • that we were not justified in subscribing to so risky a system as was adopted by the conference in relation to striking. We have a vivid recollection as railwaymen of the troubles brought upon us in the maritime strike of 1890, in which a number of railwaymen were involved. As a matter of fact it is not long since our society paid the last of the sum of ,£ISOO to secure for those strikers the recognition of their full service for superannuation, their service before the strike (many years_ in length in some instances) having been lost to them.

" The conference very early rejected a motion that funds should be available from the organisation for political purposes. What did this indicate to us ? Simply that sole reliance was to be placed on the strike. Men can strike for whatever purpose they like, but they must not run counter to the law of the land.

“ While we regret having to withdraw,” continued Mr Wilson, “ we are thoroughly acquainted with the fact that a number of other delegates have left for the same reason, and that a good many who remain are determined to go back and recommend their unions not to accept the constitution that has been carried, realising that a moderate programme is not likely to be presented. Knowing the feeling of our members, we do not feel justified in remaining at the conference wasting our time and the society’s funds for no good purpose. “ According to our judgment it is Federation of Labour tactics all through. We would, as workers en geged in a great State undertaking, like the public to know that as railwaymen we recognise our responsibility to the state, that is, to the community- . We know that we are engaged m an industry upon which tM ““t merce of the country and the iooq supply of the people depend. Therefore we are not willing to be party to the chance of its sudden, disorganisation at the heck ana call of a central executive. , v