UNITY OF LABOR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 164, 10 January 1912, Page 4

UNITY OF LABOR.

PROFESSOR MILLS' VIEWS. PARTY MUST DOMINATE NEXT PARLIAMENT. Christchurch, January 8., Professor W. T. Mills, organiser of the Labor party, spoke in optimistic terms of the party's future, in the course of a conversation with a Lyttelton Times reporter. Considering the lack of organisation and . the almost entire lack of a national campaign, he said, he thought that the results achieved by the Labor Party at the recent election could only be regarded as remarkable. He himself was the only national campaign speaker who visited the various districts, and he delivered over 300 addresses during the campaign. He felt certain that tkere would not be another election until three years had elapsed, and during that time no efforts would be spared in properly organising the Labor Party, which would then assuredly be a power to be reckoned with.

As a result of what had already been done, about one thousand names had been secured for the organisation of a housewives' union, which it was expected would be established very shortly. There was also the nucleus for a working farmers' union,' the proposition being supported by a large number of large landholders and also by those who were anxious to obtain land but were unable to do so. It was considered that the scheme would satisfy the land hunger,' and be also in 1 a manner absolutely just to the landholders, thereby securing their support instead of their opposition.

About three-quarters' of the trades unionists had endorsed the unity proposals, by which it would be endeavoreu to confine all trades unions and public organisations for Labor into one national body. What would probably prove to be the largest and most representative' Labor conference yet held in New Zealand would be held in Wellington during Easter week. There would be conferences of single trades unions and of groups affiliated under the national organisation scheme along lines of industries. For instance, the builders would have a separate conference, find the iron-moulderß another, and finally there would be a consolidated conference. Under 1 the '« unity proposal a direct, fight would be ma.de to secure the Labor F arty'a dominance in the next Parliament. The' scheme was undoubtedly a workable.one,. and would in alf"probability have an appreciable effect on the success of the Labor Party.

Professor Mills said that he saw such great possibilities for Labor in New Zealand that he could not leave the country. He would certainly remain until after the Easter conference, and there were strong possibilities that he would stay in New Zealand until the 1014 election to fight in the interests of labor. "Although," he remarKed, "I will have to go home .for a few weeks for the presidential election, for I cannot miss that. However, I will work my hardest to convince the people of New Zealand that Labor is the thing. Many' of them—in fact, the majority—are of ■. tha opinion, and only want the situation explained to them a little more to influence their votes."