THE UNITY CONGRESS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 56, 11 July 1913, Page 5

THE UNITY CONGRESS.

MR 1). MCLAREN RESIGNS

[Per Press Association.!

Wellington, July 10. Discussing the Defence Act Mr J. B. Campbell moved as an amendment: “That paragraph 12 of the fighting platform be deleted, and the following substituted:— ‘ That compulsory military training is essential to the successful defence of the country, but that the existing Defence Act should he amended so as not to permit a state of interference with parents in the discharge of their moral duties to their children.’ ” The amendment was lost.

All the clauses of the fighting plat- • form were then adopted. ,

Representation at the National ' Congress was altered to the following:—2so members or less, one delegate; 250 to 750, two delegates; 750 to 1500, three delegates; 1500 and upwrds, four delegates. The contribution of the affiliated societies has made Is per member, payable quarterly. The constitution and platform of the Social Democratic party was then agreed to by 175 to 51.

The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr E. Tregear; vice-president, Mr H Hunter; general organiser, Mr W. T. Mills; secretary and treasurer, Mr P. Fraser; deputies, Messrs R. F. Way, J. Mcßride, and McCarthy.

After other formal business the Congress closed with a presentation to the chairman (the Hon. J. Rigg).,;

During the day a letter from Mr David McLaren was read to the Congress as follows: —“As I shall not be able to support the constitution already adopted by the Congress, it would be a mere pretence for me to « stay and take part in the proceedings.”

The letter was received, says an official report, with “ironical cheering.”

The “fighting platform” is as under:—(l) Proportional representation, the initiative, the referendum, and the recall. (2) The aoolition of'tlib country quota; the election of all judges by the pto,:i-; full civil rights to all public employees; the removal pf the Parliamentary disabilities to women v 3) A Right to Work Bill, with minimum wage and minimum hours of six per day, a weekly day of rest, and a Saturday half-holiday. (4) Reorganisation and extension of the powers of the Labor Department to include scientific investigation of matters pertaining to the wages of labor and the cost of living, and to publish all findings thereon. (5) The right of unions to register or not to register without the loss of legal standing, Dominion awards, with power to regulate a minimum on a sliding scale in ratio with the rise in the price of commodities; and protection against the creation of bogus competing organisations of labor. (6) Increased taxation of unimproved land values both in town and country, and a graduated income tax, and a corresponding reduction in tariffs on goods not produced in New Zealand, and in railway freights and fares. (7) No further alienation of Crown Lands, and the establishment of homes and of improved farms as going concerns to be within the reach of all workers. (8) The direct representation of the workers on any governing boards in all departments of the Public Service and of local government authorities, (9).

Free and secular education from kindergarten to the university, with compulsory attendance in all primary grades. (10) To establish State-owned shipping, to extend and promote State fire, life, sick and accident insurance, and to establish a State bank with the sole right of note issue. (11) Oldage pensions after fifteen years’ residence for all men at sixty, and for all women at fifty; the endowment of motherhod, including maternity

care and infant life protection ; free hospital care and medical aid in the direction of maintaining the national health, rather than simply in the treatment of disease; and pensions for all widows, orphans, the blind, and the incurably helpless. (12) The repeal of the present inadequate Defence Act, and the creation of a citizen army on a volunteer basis, democratically organised, with standard wages while on duty, which shall not he used under any circumstances in time of industrial disputes, together with practical measures for the promotion of peace.