INDUSTRIAL RALLY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8339, 27 January 1913, Page 11

INDUSTRIAL RALLY

COMBINATION OF FORCES ADVENT OP SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY. Another Lahohr party “rally” was held in the Empress Theatre last evening. Mr E. Trogear presided, and there was a very large attendance. The chairman said he presided that evening for two reasons. Firstly, he was quite harmless aud would not give way to violent language, and secondly he was a member of the United Labour party. • He went as a delegate to a conference convened by the Federation of Labour, and present on tho platform with him that evening were members of the Socialist party, the United Labour party, - and the Federation of Labour. So ho stood there as a harbinger of peace, and strange to say those gentlemen who wore with him were invisibly clothed with the feathers of the dove. Ho therefore presented to them the doves of peace. This, however, meant not only peace amongst the various organisations represented hut a declaration of war against those who had oppressed' tho workers of tho world for centuries past. He had been told that it was no good trying to arouse the workers of New Zealand, as the country was so prosperous, but those who looked below tho surface and had regard to economic events would see that there was a very - serious crisis at hand. He, said this advisedly, having watched events for some time. During nine months, according to the Government statistician, the cost of living had gone up 10 per cent., which meant a tremendous decrease in the purchasing power of wages, and was a very serious thing for the worker. Ho did not endorse every word said at the conference, and he did not think anyone else did; but what he was impressed with was the spirit of forbearance and generosity that characterised the proceedings. The delegates came to an understanding and wore going to work together for six months. At tho end of that time a conference would bo held to consider matters and to try to deliver tho workers from their oppressors. UNANIMOUS FOR UNITY. Mr R. Semplo said that during the last week there had been sitting in Wellington one of the largest and greatest labour congresses that had ever assembled here. It was called for tho purpose of discussing those questions affecting tho working classes of this country aud also with tho object of attempting to heal tho breach that existed among workers in this country. For these reasons tho New Zeealand Federation of Labour convened the conference, and throughout tho host possible spirit had existed and every delegate sent by the respective organisations had expressed his determination to do all he could in tho interest of the great working class in New Zealand. They had been able to arrive unanimously at a decision whereby they wore going out together for the next six mouths to try to make possible ono of the greatest labour congresses that ever took place in tho southern hemisphere. There would be sitting side by sido with that conference an assemblage of reformers (Parliament) deciding how they were going to strangle the working class. The conference would challenge them to carry out their programme. They could not do that unless they could fight, but if all tho workers arrived at a common understanding there wocld ho no need to fight. The Reform party was well organised. Ho "‘as not going to attempt to apologise for anything that had boon done, and while men wore debating this great economic question splits were bound to occur. Concrete decisions could bo arrived at,_ and they would then work shoulder to shoulder as one common army for tho common good. He had been an aggressive character so far as factions were concerned, but if an understanding could be arrived at for tho common good ho would stop that tgrossivo spirit. They did not pose as leaders, and had to obey the mandate of the workers —they had to agree to ac programme of tho industrial democracy. They hoped that every, working man and woman would help them iu tho work they were undertaking. “A GLORIOUS MESSAGE.” Mr W. T. Young said that their object was tho solidification of tho working forces of this country into one great industrial and political organisation. Ho came to tho meeting to convey to them tho glorious message of solidarity and brotherhood and to impress on them tho necessity of joining

hands 'to bring about tho emancipation Cif the working classes. In all his experience ho had never seen a body of men so sincere and determined to bring about tho betterment of tho mats ot i,« people as at tho recent conlerence. Labour might be defeated to-day, but it would rise to-morrow more powerful than ever. Ho was glad that by a unanimous vote the conference had agreed on tho constitution of an industrial organisation and by a sioilar vote agreed on tho outline of tho constitution of a political organisation. The former would bo known as the United Federation of Labour and the latter as tho Social Democratic Party. Ho pointed out tho neod for the various branches of Labour to organise and stand together and tho power they ■would havo at their command.

Professor Alills said that they would, very shortly bo able to say to tho “ friends ’’ of Labour that they need not take any trouble on their behalf, as they wore going to got married and wero going to sot up housekeeping on their own account. He was pledged to this unity proposal among the various organisations, for there was no proposal that could benefit and strengthen tho workers more than tho one submitted now. There were a number of bodies that had not been represented at tho conference, hut their views would bo ascertained. This one fact was established at the conference, however, that tho Labour bodies of New Zealand sincerely desired to bury the hatchet among themselves and to got together to fight the enemies of Labour. Ho had been told the Federation of Labour did not want unity, but ho was convinced it did. There would be between 200 and 250 delegates at tho next conference when the proposals would Ix 3 discussed, amended, and adopted or rejected. He agreed with Air Semple these were not the days for apologies, hut for action.

“ DEATH-KNELL OF MASSEY PARTY.”

Air H. Holland thought the result of the conference had been magnificent, but by that statement tho Socialist party was not committed to anything. A proper understanding of tho working class was required to bring about unity in the industrial and political field. The workers had to come together, and they had to seek to link up tho industrial organisations throughout the world. Tho unity of labour was tho hope of the world. The conference had sounded tho death-knell of tho Massey Government. Tho object of the new Social and Democratic party was the socialisation of the means of production, distribution, and exchange, and if that was accepted, in six months’ timo they would have on© great party fighting for them.