NEW ZEALAND WORKERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 29

NEW ZEALAND WORKERS.

PROPOSED FEDERATION

A communication has been received Dy the Dunedin Branch of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenteis and Joiners from the Miners' Union in which is submitted a proposal for the federation of the whole of the workers' unions of New Zealand. It was pointed out that the conclusion had been arrived at that this manner of federation was preferable to the 'federation of labour in classes. The original idea, was to bring about a labour congress, but it was considered that the same object would be attained with less comnlica.tion and less labour by a. direct federation of all workers' unions. A circular, headed with the words "Federation of New Zealand Workers and addressed " Fellow Workers of New Zealand,"' has emanated from the \\aikaro Miners' Union in company with the proposition referred to. The circular reada as follows : — \.t a general meeting of the Waikato Miners Union it was resolved to ask all workers unions to federate and form one solid bedy, as 'hat a.one is the way by whi^h we may hope to improve our social conditions. We all must admit that the lure hi? arrived when we should be up and doino if we are to receive that to which we are entitled, "just a fair remuneration lor our labours." It is also evident that we must organise our forces if we wish to successfully combat those who are arrayed against us in the form of an Employers Federation and al<=o Farmers' Union. In these we find two most formidable and unscrupulous foes to the worker, and should those two combine, as there is a prospect of them doing, the future will have a still more serious outlook Now, if the employers of all clauses of labour federate, why not all classes of woikers. when by so doing we shall form a poweex that will make itself felt? It is essential that we have direct representation in Pailiament. and as that 13 the source fiom which the power must come, we mus: put in Labour members direct from the workers (men who have the cause of the worker at heart). It is not one iota of use to put in men who aie interested in the capnahstic side, for every time we do so we shall find to our sorrow that we have been sold, as the past has proved to us. It is also just as little use to stand and anathematise the condition of the workers: we must work hand in hand and in sympathy with each other, and so tiy and rectify matters. You ask, " How can federation directly benefit us?" Following are a few o£ the many ways • — (1) Federated, we could practically determine beforehand who we would put in Parliament to repre«ent us; whilst we are divided this will be impossible. (2) If all workers were organised we could demttnd justice and secure it by legislation. (.3) The workers could al=o raise most powerful protests against the existing monopolies that are proving themselves to ba so detrimental to the prosperity of our country, and also prevent the forming of future ones. (<) The employers are organised, thus making it absolutely essential we a' so should be organised. (5) We have few if any members in Parliament at present who really have the workers' cause at heart, most of them co-ring more for position and' the almighty dollar (6) We can (if federated) put in men direct from, the workers, men having the woikers' cau;c at heart and thoroughly understanding what their needs are. (7) Federated, we can be a help to each other apart from our pohtijcal life; we shall be able to get in touch with each other and understand each other better.

The idea of the committee that has been formed here to commence the ■work of federation is to get all unions to send a delegate to a confprence to be hekl in some suitable centre (time and place of meting to be arranged/. Small and isolated unions not being in a position to send a delegate themselves, could ama'gainate with other small unions and send a delegate between them, or they could empower any delegate they chose to vcte for them on all matters, he being allowed by the conference to do so on presenting his credentials. The estimated cost of fending a delegate would be about £12, so that a conference of 100 delegates would mean an outlay of £1200. or lOd per annum for each member of a union in New Zealand" Is per member would clear all expenses in connection with the conference.

The Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners accorded the proposal its very favourable consideration, and referred the matter to the Trades and Labour Council for its favourable consideration also. It wae decided that if required the union would send two or three of its best delegates to attend the suggested conference for the formation of the federation.