Labour and Free Trade.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7919, 7 September 1905, Page 3

Labour and Free Trade.

Presidential AddressAssisting Progressive legislation. (Received Sept. ft, 10.4 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 6. The Durham Miners' and Amalgamated Engineers' Society were represented at the Hanlcy Trades Unioii Conference tins afternoon, after eight years' absence. Mr James Sexton, President, stated that the Unemployed Act was a source of danger, enabl.ng, as it did, employers to point to over-abundance of labour as an excuse for cutting wages, and enabling them to recruit blacklegs in times of dispute. Mr Sexton further stated that frcetrade had failed to settle, or even to touch, the unemployed problem ; no frcetrade, in the truest sense .of the word, existed without freedom of produce, not for the benefit of the few, but for all mankind. That cannot be said, he maintained, at present, of frcetrade. It was not enough for freetraders to proclaim against protection or Mr Balfour's l referential policy. Labour should demand much more than a policy negative or anti-Government, which so far was all that was offered by those anxious to secure power. Labour must hold aloof from all parties except those assisting sound progressive legislation.