THE TRADES COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 239, 9 April 1912, Page 5

THE TRADES COUNCIL.

AN IMPORTANT GATHERING. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, April 6. ' The annual conference of trades council delegates opened in the Parliamentary buildings to-day. The various councils represented were:—Wellington: M. <T. Reardon, W. Naughton, P. L. Muir, and W. C. Noot. Christchureh: D. Sullivan, F. Burgoyne, R. Whiting, and E. Oordery. Dunedin: Hon. J. T. Paul, E. Breen. Invereargill: F. Ford. Hawke's Bay: D. Golder. East Coast: D. W. Coleman. Timaru: J. Reader. Auckland: J. Clark. When the proceedings opened the delegates to what is known as the unity conference, headed by Prof. Mills, were also present. Mr. Reardon extended to the visiting delegates a hearty welcome to the conference. The deliberations, he said, would be of an important character.. One of the principal items was the unity scheme. Mr. G. P. Whiting, senior delegate from Christchureh, announced that the annual report and balance-sheet would be presented 'on Monday. The Hon. J. T. Paul was elected chairman <of the conference, and Mr. W. C. Noot secretary. It was agreed to invite the Minister of Labor to attend the sittings of the conference. There was some discussion as to whether the trades- council conference should go on with its business while the unity conference was sitting. Delegates pointed out that many o? the visitors had appointments to both conferences, and eventually it was agreed that, after transacting forma] business, the trades council conference should adjourn in order that the delegates might attend the unity conference. The delegates to (1) the unity conference. (2) the tmlpe council conference, and (3) the political labor party's conference then met as one body. About 40 were present. Mr. J. MeCullough (workers' representative on the Arbitration Court) proposed that the Hon, J. T. Paul should be chairman. It was. he said, fittinj? that the president of the trades council conference should preside at a gathering which was destined to bring the workers together and be historic. Mr. Paul was unanimously elected. In returning thanks he asked, "Why are we divided? We 'want to make this an industrial paradise. We want to see every man and l woman in the community living in decent comfort." While they wished the parliament to reflect the aims of the people of the country, he said, they were divided, and the reactionary element had a representation which far outweighed their importance. He hoped they would be able to set up a common platform which would bring into actual being their aims and aspirations. There had never been a more important conference in New Zealand. They might in the next few months have the best government or the worst government that New Zealand 1 ever had. On such an important occasion they should not be divided. He sincerely hoped that in the next parliament they would have the representation and the influence that their numbers entitled 1 them to. Mr. D Sullivan was appointed secretary of the conference. It was agreed, after considerable discussion, that each delegate present should have one vote. The conference decided that the nrees should (be admitted "except when the conference "was in committee." The conference th;en resolved to go into committee to discuss the constitution. A welcome was extended by the conference to Mrs. T. E. Taylor, who represents the Canterbury Housewives' Union.