Dunedin Trades Council and the Expansion League.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 86, 1 November 1912, Page 2

Dunedin Trades Council and the Expansion League.

IN REPLY TO MR. BREEN.

Sir,—l see that Mr. Breeu, secretary of the Diniedin Trades Council, has made an attempt, if only a poor one, to defend the comic antics of his council. His arguments prove htm to be an expert hair-splitter. Instead of justifying tho council's action in joining the Duncdin Kxnaiision League, lie twits mo with riot"k<!('|ji»g to tho truth* Mr. Breen admits almost cheerfully that the assistance of the bosses is necessary at present to the Trades Council—also the tvuth of all my other statements. He only challenges my statement that the council was "reduced to silence by the immigration resolution of the Expansion 'League. Mr. Breen Rays tho council did do something. Oh, yes, Mr. Editor, I do owe the council an apology for not mentioning the fact that that body did utter a protest, the echo of which was so feeble that it too"k almost four weeks to reach the worthy ears of the worthy Editor of the "Otago Witness."

But why has the council taken such a. watery attitude in this matter? Do thoy not Vnow that it is the no.licv of the employers to hnve two men after one job? If they don't know this, it is about time they retired and gave others a chance.

The council did not pass a violent resolution, says Mr. Breen. Why not? Has Mr. Breen forgotten that they passed violent resolutions on former occasions on this question? And if the council has changed its policy there must be some reason behind it.

Let mc remind the Trades Council of Dunedin that if it refers bark and searches the corners of its memory, it will fiml the two following resolutions passed by the conferences of the Trades Councils. At the Christehuroh conference, April, <WO6, the following resolution was carried: "That the Government be urged to introduce legislation tb restrict the importation of labor under contract, whether male or female." . Sneaking to this, Mr. J. T. Paul said: "The matter is one for emphatic protest,"

Acrnin. at Wellington, 1909, the following resolution was carried: "That the conference petition strongly against the proposal \to grant free emigration to domestic servants."

Mr. Breen, on behalf of his council, voted in favor of both of the above resolutions. But since then the Dtnedin Council has deteriorated to such a degree that it meekly asks the emnlovers to let it know in which industries labor is required. Oh, what a fall!—I am,

YOURS FOR THE REVOLUTION,