Federation of Labour.

Maoriland Worker, Volume I, Issue 1, 15 September 1910, Page 7

Federation of Labour.

Conference in Wellington toward Industrialism.

[Contributed.] At last year's conference of the New Zealand Miners' Federation the constitution was amended and the name of the organisation altered to that of the New Zealand Federation of Labour in order to allow of the linking up of all trades unions in one national federation. Motions purporting to have in view the same end had been passed year after year by the Trades Councils* Conference, but these were simply of the nature of pious resolutions, and nothing ever was done. The Miners' Federation having supported such motions on various occasions, very much in tired by the inaction ami do-nothing policy of the Trades Councils' executive, set about to do the work themselves. Something like eighteen months ago circulars were sent to every trades union in New Zealand, giving a statement of a proposed constitution of such a federation of labour, and at last conference the name Miners' Federation was dropped and the more comprehensive one of the New Zealand Federation of Labour adopted.' Since then .various other unions, including the Auckland General Labourers', Wellington Dairy and Butter Factory Workers' and West Coast Workers' Unions have affiliated with the Federation. The decision of the Miners' Federation to break down the barrier which held the trades unions in sectional swaddling clothes is considered by the most advanced Trade unionists as an unmistakable evidence of the intelligent growth of scientific economic knowledge among the mine-workers. It is considered by them, the first step in the passing of craft unionism, and an intimation that industrial unionism is coining in New Zealand under the style and title of the Federation of Labour. THIS YEAR'S CONFERENCE. This year's conference opened its meeting in Wellington on August 18 at ten o'clock, Mr Robert Semple (State miners), the retiring president, in the chair. It was decided that the Conference should follow the example of the Employers' Federation in excluding newspaper reporters, but agreed to supply a digest ot the proceedings daily for publication. Mr Semple, the retiring president, welcomed the delegates to the Conference, and delivered his annual report. He traversed the various difficulties which the Federation had been called upon to deal with throughout the year, going at length into the question leading up to the strike at the State mine, Point Elizabeth, last November and December. He congratulated the miners that after three weeks' stoppage of work the Federation were able to have abolished a grievance of many years' standing, a. grievance which had been the cause of many accidents, many of them fatal, during that time. Mr. Semple impressed upon the delegates present the need of absolute loyalty of unions to the Federation. He pointed out that these sectional strikes must be put a stop to, and declared that it was suicidal for small unions at this stage of economic development to attempt to fight organised capital in small skirmishes. Their duty was to organise, to strengthen their position so that they, at some future time, might be able to effectively defend themselves. He gave a resume of his organising work during the year, which met with the hearty approval of all the delegates. He counselled them to put their best work into remodelling their constitution, and to set up a committee to devise ways and means to bring about the establishing of a newspaper owned and controlled by the Federation. He hoped they would return to their respective districts refreshed and reenthused in their work for industrial unionism. The Conference continued in session till August 20th, a great deal of important business being transacted. A full report of the proceedings is being printed for circulation. The election of officers resulted as follows: —

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Mr. Dowgray (Granity), as returning officer for the election of officers, declared the following members as duly elected to the offices named: — President, P. C. Webb; Vice-Presi-dent, EL. Finch Carter second ballot with W. E. Parry) ; Secretary, J. Glover Carter second ballot with M. Fagan;; Organiser, Robert Semple (re-elected without opposition).