The Birth and Growth of the N.Z. Federation of Labor.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 62, 17 May 1912, Page 2

The Birth and Growth of the N.Z. Federation of Labor.

The Conflict Around Arbitration, and its Ending By P. H. HICKEY.

111. Nij sooner liiid the («;<"■ v'.r.oiith Con foroiK'O definitely ilh idc.l upon t'..-> for million i)l' a Federation of Mii;«M'.'i iliu the question, of n'j;i-.lf;ili(.ii tmu-'i tin C. and A. A<:t were taised. Thi.■aroused 4i spirited aifl prntr.u-inl dis ru3.sion. Arbitratiunisl-i ;nul antl-h'■ ImralioiiUts wen , each <|i -tcnnined tliai liicir |iiii'ti('til;ir views mi arbitration •fiould iii" , eonlirnicd. S.i bitter cfitl tin «t>iiles|. become Iliat mi more than olli' Occasion ;i deadlock :ippi'.-iiH'fl inevitable, taith sides refusing l<) .Kwnt haily, however, the ant i-arbil i'a( ionists, *>oner i!i;lll sec conference bleak up in disorder, introduced the Folldu inu Kiel ion: "This ri>ii!";vi]<f :itlinns the P'i!»-i|ili>s nl' < < oiii'ili;i| ion ;iiii] :ul)ilr;itk»n :i.s laid down !iy the lion. \V. 1 , . Roews in the JSill ot ls!»|, and tluif tho fjUfsf inn of resist int ion ):<■ held over t«!l ootilVrciico ni"cls in Wclliiiiilon.' , An amriidiiK'iii was iikikvl ;is ioliows : '■'That iliis <-(ini<MiM'cc is in iV,-nr of niidfr l!:c Chik iliation and Ai'i)iir;il.i<iri Acf." Afd-r :\ di«nl more heated delinlo tin , nuil ion wns PrtrnVd : the anicndiiifiu !x'in<; wiiliThe moMon, m will be seen at one«, Merely endorses a Bill introaiKeti som<i li j-i'iir.s i:iwlior. 'I'lus I'iiot aDoamntly w«s nof. liv ilic [ii'ii-ai'iiitra-tiouists. luir wen , llicy on tfio niiittiT ;\t filiit enniori'iire. 'I'o reKistw tin , !'V'd(>ralion under a nieasuvi' whicli did not esist would be a sheer wipossibility. In elVect, the motion Meant thai eniifniviico jnciiared to voluntary arbitration, alv.ays ro♦jrviny ilu> to strike, wliieli was not ialieji aiv:iv in the Hill referred t.i. 15e il noted also, that, a couple of weeks previously, at the .Dominion I'cadfi* and Labor C'oiniciN' Conference, j * similar resolution was carried unanimously. In the dniffiiiii' of a preamble, oon- I etiturioti and rules conference uas ' lai'ijjoly guided by l''e(leiation rules aljvady in vxisteiice clscwliffc. It may fee news to many to know that the original preamble was taken almost word for word from that of the Western IVdonition of Miners, of North Amcr-j ka. The same was true of the majority i»i" the objects. Whilst conference departed from its wiginal intent ion of forming a l'Ydera- i tion of Labor in ord"r to avoid hamper- j Mlg tile efforts of the Trades (.'oiincils' j KU'VCMirnt, tile necessity of ! i»ther than miners was not lost siujit of. j A clause was inserted reading as I'ollows: "The l'lxeculive of the Federation tdull hnve tlio power to admit-, any bona JWke J*bi»i' body other than minium, j)rorided that tiiere is no federal ion ol t3io particular industry in which they •re onwiyed." This clause shows the jJesire that existed to organise into itbor battalions isolated organisations, whilst a( the same time ;;irin;; the iworket's in other industries an opporttuiifcy of building up the TH* (hose industries lvhere such efforts were beiii" made. That every care was taken can be sei n from this and the prccodii'.fi oliiipler to uive the fullest opportunities to kindled organisations to push <iv the work of lederal ion without liiudraneo of any kind whatever. A perusal of that conference's dclib•rations L;ivcH tin- lie direct to I ho rejieatod tliat Ihe [federation was <»f)|»ose<l to political action, (hat il relied solely upon the strike method. "Ainnn;.! its lawful purposes, ,, runs »,ht» preamble, ''we declare n:,,re especially onr o-Viect to lie: (I I For the pur}xis« of securing the reluru of niembeiH to I'arliamr'iit pledged io support ami

'carry out ihe policy ot' Labor. T\\<- oHi jnolivc* de< id (1 upon is flw K(M'inlift:ii,ii>!i ,'of- Ji<- means of production, distribution j ;iii(i exchange, and th.' method at proj .s.-ni adopted towards tint end is lli.« I iiiMi (il members pledged lo support; a 1 J.;ilior group which shall bo, (jniti> dn'.iiict from any other political party; .ill tni'iiilx'j ■-: returned to lii> n»il.roll<«<i I.'V ;) Labor Representation Commit ix-e. Tin- at.tilud" 'oniinls any ot her political p:U-t.y shall lie tliat of independent, imles.s that party or tli>> "ovot ume.'it, n engaged upon meaMirci likely to aife.l, j the interests of the workers or tlio •;.')- jcetiYe of tli(> C'omniittci', \vh«Mi, oi' courM , , tilt , iiKMsurc vvill b<; support*-! or m rordin^ly." tin's it woul.-l bo very lilliciilt indeed to undcr.-it'iiid when , tli' , f- ,- pi>;itf<l olijt'rtinn (hat tlio hail no u.-ic l'<ir l-ln> K.iliot. originate.!. liik<' niiiny other rhurni's broui;fit against tii<> it is but a tinmen! of the iiiiinjiiutiuii. succi'i'dtHi in tlt<i West Coast niinors' unions, it was d<- ,- oid-cd to |)i(Mxv.'(l a.t oner* with tin , work ot briii-finii; all minors' unions ia tlii , vnrions parts of Xrvv Zoahmd into tho organisation. In or<l<'r lo avoid tlio possibility of litini'ci'ssar.v delay, it w;i,,n di'oiMcd that a foiifer'.MK-n of all minors' unions bo called tor the following O:Uj- | Ikt ]!), in Al'tor cU><-tiii)j; | as treasurer 11. Iyciiihhlv, of Krollon, j the lirst ooufcriMico (if what is now tin j WZ.V'.L. rose, at'u-r siUinp; for iivo , days. j The response t<) tho circulars Usue'l : by t,b(> si-i-rotary to lh<> niincrs' unions ; oi" New Zealand', calling the j conl'en-ii(.-(> was v<tv prompt. I'ru-H-I <■.!ll\ I'lerv union replied in thf atlirma- : live, .staling that t.iie Jk'i'ivssity of snoll : an organisation had been nised. I The sofond ronfcreiiip of tlio miners' ! assembled in Well>i!j;r.oi;! ,»1 Octolior If). Tlio only //iinorV unions o any note not rcpro.ient'.'d wore t,h< ai!<l Tlianms Vnioii-i. The wnr.'-r liouc\ rr. wired at iL.-> inability t<l bo n>presented. The pi'eaiiihlo, con-itit'ition, and r >;]■ •- draflei.l liy tlio Groyinouih couft'i'-'ivi' ui'iv adopted, practically without aiCciation. Tin , ([Uestion of w;h anain responsible for ;\ spirited diseu.-i----sion. The anti-arbitralioiiista ivr-;« oiire more in provonling U\f organisation I'roni boiiiii; lassotud by tin , (.'. and A. Act. A motion -was subinitlod: "Thai this Federation register under the C'oiH'iliation aivl Arbitration Act." An amendment was moved .is follows: 'That this Ki'dcralion defer ivi uistjation until such time as it. had an [opportunity of of she workings of the Act as anicndi'd. and that in '.he nicanfimc the I'Vdomliou register umlW the Tradi's Act. Further, that; j, j referendum be taken on the , question of I registration under the (.'. and A. A--t, and result thereof bo submitted to noxl. conforonco." The JinioiidiiHTit was carried by thiT-o to on<>. At a l;iU« - ---staL;o. as tho result of a opinion .supplied by Mr. 1 , . J. O'Hogau (who had j'isi boon appointed attorney to the Federation) all M'fereiioo l<) both »;■<>- fioii and amendmeni was rescinded, .1:1! the resolution, which «;is uiianiino'i-.!' aiiree.l to, read as follows: "That, this Federation register under tho Tra'.'es T'niou Act." Jliiiiy and anxioim have been the iurjuirios why the proposal to submit the Question of registration to a ballot •.•γ-s not carried out. Tho answer is found in the Federation minut-o book, 'j'ln resolution was rescinded. One writer h.i.s hinted that the Federation <!eiib.'rat.ely refrained from «:arr.\ iiiti out i<s own resolution, being afraid ol th-- result. Such innuendoes are worthy ol ilie p-'r-j