LABOUR PARLIAMENT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8338, 25 January 1913, Page 8

LABOUR PARLIAMENT

WORKERS CONFER POLITICAL ACTION DISCUSSED BY DELEGATES. "UP TO WORKERS TO SHIFT MASSEY." Yesterday the- Labour Conference continued its deliberations at the "Maoriland Worker" Office. The Hon. J. Bigg M.L.C., presided. The report of the proceedings herewith was officially supplied : Mr Belcher gave notice that he would move at a later stage: '‘That the Government be requested to amend the Constitution Act of .New Zealand so as to admit of the Dominion Parliament passing any shipping law** necessary to conserve the interests of persons engaged in the maritime occupations of the Dominion." FOB SOLIDARITY. Th© conference resumed the discussion on the motion by Mr Boss; "That, recognising that political action is necessary and inevitable in the work-ing-class movement, we agree to the formation of a political party for the enact ing of legislation to bettor the condition of the working class, and ultimately to achieve our emancipation." Mr Mills moved as an amendment: "To th© end of securing complete industrial and political unity, this con ference urges all industrial and political Labour bodies maintaining a Dominion organisation, and not identified with the United Labour Party, to appoint eacli a commission with as many members as it may like, but with power to act, to meet and confer with the Easter Conference oi the United Labour Party, and to undertake th© complete consolidation of Labour both for political and industrial purposes, and to forthwith inaugurate that body or bodies as a going concern. "Failing in this, then to undertake a creation of a single body for industrial purposes and another single body for political purposes, but in that case to so relate tho Dominion organisation for political action to the Dominion organisations of the industries that the Party of Labour cannot be alienated from the Labour unions either in its policy or its control. "Failing to accomplish cither of the above, then to undertake to secure an agreement under which all unions and other Labour bodies shall make local arrangements with each ether such as will make possible the naming of one candidate only standing for tho name of Labour for any pffice in any election. until such time as there is a complete organisation of all the workers along the lines of th© industries and occupation, in which they are employed, seeking for the solidarity of Labour, this conference urges that in all case© of strikes and lock-outs the Dominion organisation of the industry or occupation involved shall be tho controlling organisation, and where possible. a ballot .of all members of the controlling organisation (Should b© taken preceding an order to ! strike, and th© co-operation of other bodies shall be sought for through their Dominion organisation, and ,snoh support shall be asked for after ample opnortunity for deliberate action, including the taking of a ballot after the same manner as is suggested for tho controlling body itself." Mr Boss's motion was carried. AN INTERIM ARRANGEMENT.

The adjourned discussion on Mr Hickey 1 s motion and Mr Mills's amendment ro industrial arrangements pending tho forming of a completely united industrial organisation was resumed. Mr Fraser opposed tho amendment, which ho said would have a most insidious effect. Delegates had expressed a desire for unity, hut tho amendment would militate against industrial unity. They were living in the 20th century—a time for clear and determined action. The amendment, in the event of "scab'' slaughtermen heing employed, would compel a prolonged and round-about procedure that would make blacklegs of the watorsider, and would not permit the watorsiders to take swift action to help the slaughtermen. To be effective they must ho prepared at any time to throw in their lot with the rest in time of strife. Mr McLennan also opposed the amendment. It was, of course, necessary to have discipline in the organisation. The men involved in a trouble were the best judges as to whether they should fight or not. In every fight the workers Tvere dways right and never wrong. How could the/ be wrong when they were only getting a fraction of tho wealth they produced? If the Waihi miners had followed along the lines indicated in the amendment, they would have been defeated before they conld have utilised the ponderous and slow machinery proposed. Mr Ellis wished to support the amendment. He urged that the industrial organisations in existence should be utilised in the direction of the motion carried for industrial unity. "SCABS.” Mr R. Semple said the resolution now before the conference meant that they would support the slaughtermen if necessary. They did not question the slaughtermen's right to sheath their knives. The employers were going to organise scab concerns under the Arbitration Act, and when "scab” moat came to the wharf were the watersiders going to ask: "Did the slaughtermen take a ballot? 1 ' In such a case, the man who handled the "scab" carcase would be as much a "scab" as the man who killed and dressed it. He objected to juggling with phrases, and he wanted to see the conference do something. Hr G. Far!and said there was little difference between the ballot Mr Massey wanted and the one Mr Mills wanted. Tho ballot in this case was tho refuge of a coward. The idea of such a ballot at the waterside would be farcical, because any action they took must he sudden. A* ballot such as that proposed would give the capitalist press an opportunity to make a case for the masters. Mr Collins said he had been through various strikes in England and in. Australiasia, and knowing what a strike meant, ho objected to any outside persons being permitted to say whether men should bo allowed to strike or not. Quoting from tho Arbitration Act, he showed that the special clauses were put there for a special purpose. _ The fortnight's notice was to give time to get "scabs.” They had had a lively exnerienc© of this in the bakers' strike. To take a ballot as suggested by Mr Mills would bo to place their affairs in the hands of the employers. Mr Whiting supported the amendment. Ho denied that it meant that any outside body should be permitted to control a strike. He was as much in favour of unity as any one. WORKERS NEVER WRONG. Mr Holland said the difference between "my class right or wrong” and “my country right or wrong” was that the'workers were never wrong when they fought for more of the wealth their labour produced. The amendment resolved itself into a declaration that they take a ballot to decide whether they would fight for or scab upon their fellow workers who might happen to he on strike. ... , Mr Hickey said tho resolution was being interpreted in a way that was ™t correct. The resolution covered the whole field of the present stage of industrial organisation. As Mr Collins said, every union must make provision for business conduct. The Labour movement never progressed bv being mealy-mouthed, but by being militant, and the correct spirit to act upon was to recognise the need for united action. Mr Trrgear said he was nominally in favour of the amendment. He counselled moderation, and wonld rather see a committee formed to draft some proposal on which they conld agree than have

the conference split on this Question. He was in favour of many things that had been put forward—as for instance, that the watersidcrs and other workers should not handle material to help the employers against the workers on strike. At the same time, in the case of certain industries, especially where the stoppage of a milk supply might involve the lives of infants, he thought some special provision should bo made. AN INSULT. Mr Wallis apposed the amendment. If he cast a ballot for the' amendment, ho would be insulting the members or the organisation ho represented by doubting what their answer would be it ever they were asked whether they would “scab” on their fellows on strike. Mr Moriarty said he would speak In favour jof -the amendment, because it would do away with so-called leaders. What right had any man to appoint himself a leader and call men out on strike. He objected to combining industrial and political business. The slaughtermen had taken a ballot to decide whether they would strike. Mr Young said that the motion simply asked that they should take certain action in the event of a strike, pending industrial unity. In the tram strike certain Labour men had argued for fourteen clays' strike. Then they had two meetings, and every hand went up. Indeed, every man stood up. Then they took a ballot, and every man voted lor the strike, with two informal votes. If the boss hit him on one cheek, he was not going to bed to think it over for a fortnight, but he would hit back on the job. To support the amendment would be to support the policy of Mr Massey and the Government. The motion was put and carried on the voices by a large majority. ' DRAFT. CONSTIT UTION. It was resolved that a committee of twelve be appointed to draft constitution and principles of the proposed new organisation. Mr Mills moved; —"That the special industrial committee bring down to this conference an outline of constitution, such outline as approved by oonicrence to l>o later recommended to trades unions as the decision of the conference; a subcommittee afterwards to be set up to work out details and report same to a joint conference composed of delegates from all unions adopting such outline of constitution'.” Mr Silverstone seconded the motion. A JOINT CONFLUENCE. After a deal of discussion, it was resolved that the concrereinc© should bo bold at Weili-agfcou on the first Tuesday in July, applications to be made to the United Laoour Party and the Socialist Party to postpone their annual conference to the same date. Mr Eagle was given, permission to retire in favour of Mr Cook, national secretary of the Socialist Early. Earing the discussion Mr Fulton, said he was in favour of allowing time tor consideration of the matter, but he wanted in the meantime a declaration, as to what was to be done re Huntly. He had had a letter from there, which conveyed the information that because in a meeting a union man had denounced the scab union, he had been threatened by the secretary of the scab union that he would lose his job. It seemed that the boss had delegated the work of sacking men to the secretary of the‘scab unions. The following were elected to form the subcommittee to work out details of the new constitution:—Messrs Ross, Semple, Hickey, Fraser, Hunter, Young, Parry, Belcher, Holland, Mills, Webb, Tregear. POLITICAL UNITY. On a motion being moved to refer the matter of political unity to a committee of twelve, Mr Boss opposed it on the ground that they should first com© to some decision as to the essentials for unity—which , .were the objective and name. The federation was prepared to have unity oh the political field providing it was on a sound basis. The Federation of Labour had nothing to gain : by a political party, except that it would thus find political reflection for its volutionary attitude on the industrial field- . Mr Semple favoured leaving matters or detail to the committee stft up. Mr Fraser said that so far a« the name of the party was concerned, he felt that they could not do better than copy the name of the Social Democrats of Germany, in which there was nothing unedifying whatever. Eight outside of a clear objective and an uncompromising objective would only load to disunity and confusion. Mr Xregear moved as an amendment that the one committee act in both cases, Mr Cook said the name of the party, would be of vital importance. Militant Socialists would not accept a party with a non-Socialist name. The amendment of Mr Tregear was carried. Mr Hickey moved and Mr ’Mills seconded that the rules prepared by the subcommittees be submitted to the full committee for endorsement. On Mr McLennan's motion it was ro* solved that the committee should report on industrial matters first. CENTRAL UNION BUREAU. Mr Snjith (Dunedin Drivers), moved; “That in view of the fact that about 90 per cent, of the membership of unions are continuously absent from the meetings, and are thus out touch with matters dealing with questions of vital interest to them except as dished out by the daily press, and also the tact that union members are rarely^. circularised concerning their business, it is imperative that unions establish a central bureau, the functions of which shall be to circularise all members of unions subscribing to it at least once per month, and a medium thus established to be used as a vehicle for the education of the unite on economic questions.” The first essential, ho said, in industrial organisation was to infuse dynamic force into the movement, and this would be done by adopting some such method as suggested. Mr Silverstone seconded the motion. He argued that they should adopt such a method as would make for the diminution of lack of knowledge and attendance at meetings would make in this direction. A discussion on methods followed, Mr Mills stating what had been done in other parts in the matter of systematically circulating literature. He advocated carrying motion. The motion was carried. TO DESTROY THE MASSEY GOVERNMENT. Mr Boreham (Dunedin Trawlers) moved; —“That with the lessons of the past year, written in the blood of our dead comrade before us,, no effort should be spared during the next twenty-two mouths that will tend to bring about the political destruction of the Massey Government-” He said immediately the Massey Government into power, they repaid the workers who had put them there by sending polio© to Waini. Evans was killed, and the law of thuggery put into operation, towards the destruction of clean unionism. He urged the adoption of the remit. Mr G. Smith seconded the motion. Mr McLennan supported the motion. He said after what had been dono at Waihi and Huntly it was uj> to every worker to help to shift Massey. They condemned the scabs, but those who were accessories—who endorsed the scabs — were worse than the scabs. The scab was sometimes the victim of economic circumstances, but the man who stood outside and applauded the scab and aided him was far more worthy of censure. The Massey Government's . actions had ended in murder. The miners' hail had been broken into, not only with the police looking on, but with the police assisting them —under instructions from the Massey Government. The discussion was interrupted by the adjournment at 5 o'clock until this morning. SOCIAL GATHERING. The delegates attending the conference assembled at Young’s Private Hotel on Thursday evening, when the conveners of the conference entertained the..

visitors. Mr John Dowgray presided, and there were about ninety delegates present. Mr Dowgray extended a hearty welcome to those present, and said that the conference would prove to be one of historic importance, inasmuch as it would probably result in the establishment of one grand Federation of Labour, that would change the face of social life in New Zealand- A long toast list was honored, the speeches being on similar lines to those made during the conference discussions.