The Federation Conference.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 62, 17 May 1912, Page 8

The Federation Conference.

Ever Miico "The Ma-oriuiiid Worker" was established Micro lui3 been earnest and {x?rsi stent talk of a Federation of Labor Conference, and in the orying of it all liavo agreed upon tho noecssity of it mid tho possibilities in itAnd now, find at last, tho Conference, is here! However timely it might have been if hold earlier, there can bo no two opinions as to Us paramount timeliness at the present juncture. 2\ever before was tho hour midier i'or ih<> inon than now. There ci>u!d bo no weightier testimony to tho remarkable, growth of ihe Federation oi Labor than Iho list of organisations and delegates we print on. another r J'herf> could bo no bettor crioVnc > of tho strength of eharactor and brain of tho Federation as ;i whole tlinn tho 70 odd remits also printed in this issue. That (ho Federation has mndr abounding progress both nniurrically and in thought the representation and '.he proposals iibuiidantly bwtr wilm\- = . A f>",v years hack the »iO:,L oj>tir'iisii'-- end runbition-; wnidd !i:ird!y hay< 1 drocr;-.! l!;-.« reality <>f today. ' Tin' iii'-ml'vship i)C o'j,- fj.'Jitijjj); Ft'deratiou may well bo proud of Ihe h(i;';h!s lii"y hay- eiiinhed and k"iit, a.r.'d tho uelet!;ai".-- l-o tht , -eonfi'renc*' , may wi'l! fw'l Ihat Mi is tJieir hour, a 7!"):",m-'':it fij alloiipd- , !, don!-. ■ijj;! , *y work !ui- liv./ii do'ie; illicit! i<-r >.i;r!; rcir-n.iis.-. !u !>e diii». TV.'eau- , .-. ih. re lux be. n il'orc rnu-i !>■• pi .<-.>;ri.'.s.-;—■■(". i'iy ;iti.tiii•ni.>uf; :l f.)-!-;.,,] >~r :i-.-i!!,■-,.-. A. 1i..-.v- :- ---isvent upon ,-i< •]<]< i-^itien!'. \\'f are not iiiinii'.i'if'i! oi tin ir '-.ilcmii i\ <!>!.';;.■ .ibilii,. , ,, v /!ioii v.v ".siii)lr-!ic:irlrd- !..• uvh.oiM' Hi- lo 'Jiei.- duii.-s. lor Iji.' liiii'> b-.'intr tlif.y are-i11 , . , makers '•<: !-.j;ii i-.'-rs. n.>l ali.i.'ie'-if the. I '■■ -<l<-r;i t i.->!i, hit , . <>i" W'>rkiiH;--c!<iSs history. Mii'-li, very r,,-u:'i, de[>ond3 upon tlu hi a-. 1!;.- - of unions uho have flared to think, speak, atv.l :!e! on behalf of the. most outr:v>:>keii, deterTuined and ruvolutioiiary of New Zcabitid workers. They ran ;.i.iki this eon-i'M-encc a landmark in organisaMon; they can make, it a beaoon .i.-itri'le ol" Thiie ?■:«" t'vo honor, s'ory, and < iiiiux-ipalii-m at Uu> wistful common iv opk\ Jji-iit upon the fullest attain;!!)!- a.meluiration, Lho delegates■■vill jirr.-rtJi.jl-.-ss know tltat the bottom excuoo for tli mi- as delf-KaU'X, am' the iv ; \l purpose t»f it, is that work-ing-cl,t«-> supieiiMey 3isd whivtion may ho taken .uid heM. Our Ui=iuU'!ii« upon this will be tin; ijOUet itijpn.iijti.'d whoii we remind the,

(h,-tf 111-. I'Vdoraiion nw'.-! its important phtee in the scheme of things to its difTereiuv of spirit, doctrine, and aim to any other combination, in tliat spirit, doctrine and aim it has Uirived: ill that spirit, doctrine and aim il alone can thrive. It otves its special place, it lias its special place, to the fact of heiiiii rebellions lorce lor (ho overthrow of wielding the weapon of industrial Unionism, seeking assured and pcrniaiienl. leisure, pleasure, and treasure for the workers equally with all. Never nnisl this be., forgotten. Having emphasised this, it is also wise to emphasise that due dHiberati >n ltmst lie i<» (lie inherent iinperiections and pariieular cirriinialances of the Vvi'wv.i tiiin as a limited seciioi: of tli« working-class. U;:fortuna!dy, the great central idea for which the I'Yderaiiun stands— Tnd'i.sirial Unionism— cannot be completely successful in its plans until a considerably larger adherence of Organised Labor is gained to it and under Federation auspires. Whilst, for instance, in most places wh'M-o n strike, iniiihf (alee place, the bulk of Mie workers would not he able, even if i.l:ey ■ii'-i?--. , 'J, to take part in the strike, it <.vjsiu-.it be churned that Industrial Unionism, or perfected niar.'iiiiery and pnlnlanlv, is possible, .\dmii.tiu.a; all ihe that eon Id he doi:e, nothing "cncr.il vo iiie point of unaiii.'nily is pr;.c!.ie;!!ile wi; !ioi:S- iiuionisni as a whole i-: joined iv Ihe J-'uriμ-t----n;ore, th -re liirks in i he background as a decided d.-, :!!/,.•* rite s:.".'*.-,. of the u iior,r:iiiised wurhcrs. Thus, f.vif'dl .•du'"','ional pri'jia;;:uida l.;eco!i ''s imperative—in Ihe (.-no case sri'cilically that arbitration which ]vev-en:< snlid and undivided action in iiidcst;-.;.! disputes, and s.i preventiurr taste: s s.xiiiheiy: and in ihe ofii-T eas , .: towaid-; n.akiii;.; the unorganised a part of ',};.■ u-:^., nidation. I'lie prr-iifi i- : U.'u.'j. .n ii U, it « ili !.-• sensible- if t,!;-- 'I"!: bo not- .'verP"erij)itate. in v:, ',!;ip;j; ;iii■■rali.nis i:i I'M*, strticiirv. Ci-rtain necessary tli'-iv !;ri '■>!. he, lvi!, i rttnsi'oi ination is not r-a!!.'-i fir. (Jiven the i !;i ,sifiraii.'i! of ll:e p---,:.-:;f unitin; in; : , f - s |;- tn\ t f-ciiiici!.-. ;ii! I ( oncii! j-'iii!y ii.io ! :;iiio!ia! f .-■?-. i -,' -,';.! d.-p. i;t n.e.Mt.i i i. -- { ,;■:• . : i!'.''.> S('!:e"i" ■:[ re-»; .';;);i;;>ai ion '■!:;;;'!)!:■ to i:n:ii-!ia'.- :.-r r :;-...re:;: ■>~ >■'.! :h:v.H ;..!...„■.'-lo, l ;.e.:Th: l | : .1.-r :■!! (son p<T!V.-' ( .,| -.-ch-Piir;..! ,::-.;'.n;-ia-Si-tl: i-; ii--.'. -,> >t!'t'-;.' .!!■■ .■■-.•■ ...;i;.! i m>; .; as ii is (hat shall be ah-r', '••••■II-!:; : i ■!. ■■■•M---;( ard iri.v Ti ■ ;■' ! -1 :.\!i ;i!.'r-i:,'";; ;',r,,v,;|| of t.h'- 11-1 ;, ,n f 'hat -;iv ••] -i ;-h.ii--<. : - iii its l-rni, or >tr'ii if.' r, {):■■<) [!::■ i'V-le-iiion inns; be J.l-.vu.v - '■ f;-l :j!-i.iii ■~ and indeed in«ineib!e. .M.-re c!; i- r,. i:: |~rm v.ill not lieni:ii;e '-'"d.-'Tition victories e''-r-exp;i.!Hlij; r » .vil.iu;!: iiy, coupled with .i!llil)(l laefi'-s ;<!ld U!-.e "ill nv.ilre them. In fir' , iru'-anlirne, it were Kaniiv if ive '.hat fK'fi'ats are &y. |. ,i, pile) ,-|f the class sti-!i>_;l-' as a.-i , vir-l. nics. Thus simll iir.'trioi'ileness efur.-f. Of a mirf'ty, f.li; , pro Mem of tiiin is t!l(> pliief |»i;i!(l-'!n fur conference, l>tit tve believe: !•!«• sort of improved machinery wiually deinaiideil by H'MuI.S to that t»f chansio id that

appertaining f-o tin» |;ovormiHMit of tho organisation and the dohi;.; ul' jnr-r-•:iso<l educational work. Aside from the piessint; ii'wl Cor nioro fde.tlt with separately) and more money, th"re i' tin- matter of occlusive secret iria! sol vie- ;'i!i! tin' other matter of the f >|wit. liabilny ill' every iin-iti !)■•!■ in I In- iniimi.mi■ tm<-i• nf tin's |i:i|)rr. I!'. ;\s in (,»iii'ensland and NVvv Snutli W;i!i'>. ue (.uilil ,j,e| eveiy member paxiii;.' for his paper with his <IneS, lint ,>u!y ■>• .i' 1• i "'I lie W'-rki-rV circulation be rl-.i:M .1, lint its final!' ial po-.i:iou In , 111 \; 1 !"■ * ■:. ■I>l •* - Willi every daily piper bitterly ;ilHeki,i- ti:i« !'■■•■!,.i-a!ii.ii, ;t r, 1 aimoM vvvy , n!.li"i- paper vvwlliiiii 11 s■ ■ cliiirih, ii i> ") vii.-ji iicpiirl l.'i.n a )):'•« -i '>.■ lii-'iily Ims'il :tii-l that 'l-iiliiv, n!" olir •V, I! '}!■ |v;icl!"l| rint for. A -! iielivc :is wniild lie ilic 1 ye.ii iiient (if Tin , [■■•iiiit-, we shall lull pre n"n:r• tv ie\ie,v them, lint it is eli-ar tli.it ilifv make ;, 1'0r..,;,!;,bii- liiisincss slierl ai:'l that will hay- to he .••■oveiiinuly lin-iiifss-likc hi lo:-:lv ol' l!iiMn. It is a hi- c:iniVreiic., , ii nil will le l>y t.h'- l)in-i:e-.s ..!' That they will deliberate senuir-.ly al:d With <vie;| feeling we trust, wilhont snyine;. Win!; , i>i - .'."'nius, thoii- task is Tlio debate-; shnuld !*o ol a huh order and :i (riMt to lio;ir. .May we remind the co;ilVrei,<'e (hut "■ i i:»■ Atiekhuid lreu!i!e" should hr iii,:iir.liie;iifuisl,v dealt witli. for in this runlifliidli ul'.' KIN'iT l.'a.S eirCH til" lOUll.is that '';ms in linn's .skin' , is (iie I'"r(Teralion, an , .! a' Ihe sair.c tuno the yell against us all as luisehiei dms "a^il; I - !<if.i" nn]y i'li I'iir !<;'tii.s|/m/'!:t and I'.disr , is tin. , swi-11-lii adrd raving most [xipu.li!-. 1 . I.eCiMH. , tl'e ( ' 1 ; . S S \V;, V is |h- ..Ilf »;ir H il.ll uhieh J'Vderal Ifilil's!s li;i\ - c t> do, and hi-csuisi , conscripi i.m is them in lint- Class AVar. and lieraii.v all the capiiali-.! i<. , institutions of N."v Zealand are fur < oiiscrij)! ion, Compulsory .Military 'IVaininj; sluiul'.l we biiioti , hip arid tliirrli. Imputations from lli» Socialist-Turfy and the United Labor l'arly "ill v.ait ujiiin confoN'iici , , and we venture th.c opinion Hint some should he arrived al willi oacli —with the Roeialisl Party, w< , should say, political iielion, and with (lie Labor i'ariy rciiiirdinij; the helping of oarh otliei- in industrial di'sp' , This far at leas! with both, thoui;h pi>v>:b'v further. In our eru,ade of ]iiikii';i-up and fteeompruiyin:; demiiipiatioii nf •■■.orii::ii:il unionism, it is of ur;;eiuy th-'t s-r----lariau unionism ho hit harder. l)ol(>2;ak's! —you aro to ho thn spokesmen for your uniniiK and the iii.itiiiiiK'iits for tho advanefmc , ; 1 !. nf your class at i!u> largest and I'lnt iiuporlant confeieneo so far held by tlio I,:ihnv Federation. Since the last eonK'lvnco a, stride , lias been taken jn ui-Miii,,-.; -Itii>. jinti lh" liiiivr:- , . are ■.■;!:■■! in find willi tho'ii to-day transport, wotrors, sli-eaiers, general laborers and others. Since , the hist eonfereuee, "'I In , Maoiihsnd Worker" J;a.s liefii f-larfed. Since ihe la.sl f'OPt'ereiK-", sjileudid de.'ds have lieeii recorded to Federation's credit, and tin , name of the |''c.!iT;>tion h.iJ l!;roiio;hniit the laud. Together in fratr-i uil\, to-.'llier moaning together bent on siviii-iu:; the eaiin- , of all causes to tiju!)ip!i. for all r<n<! Tor raeli insi'eure and exploite-d toiler, to-e'eher thus, 0 dele;;nles, yon. may ride (he whirhird -md direct the storm.