LABOR’S OPINIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1921, Page 6

LABOR’S OPINIONS.

REMARKS BY ALLIANCE OFFICIALS. A QUESTION OF LOYALTY. The Taranaki Workers’ Council held a smoke concert in the Workers’ Social Hall on Saturday night in honor of the delegates to the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Federation conference at present being held in New Plyipouth. Mr. G. T. Scott (president of the council) presided over a large attendance, and extended a hearty welcome to the delegates. He read an apology from Mr. 8. G. Smith, M.P. The first toast, “The Land We Live In.” was proposed by the chairman, who said that not long ago he had had the pleasure of proposing the same toast at a similar gathering. A great deal had been said recently about loyalty and constitutionalism, but in his opinion the best way a man could show his loyalty to the Empire and to New Zealand, or to any country was by unselfish working and by ungrudgingly giving service—not through talking ability. Also by /trying to lift up the people to that plane which it might be said was predicted ,by Robert Burns when he wrote “Man to Man Shall Brothers Be.” In looking up the encyclopaedia as to the word constitutionalism he found that the welfare of the people/tfvas the supreme law. “Visiting Delegates” was proposed by Mr. H. Robinson, president of the New Plymouth Waterside Workers’ Union, who said that those men who had by their energy and integrity placed the federation in the position it was now in, deserve all honor. WILL VvAGEfi COME DOWN? I The reply vtas made by Mr. Glover, president of the federation, who expressed his appreciation to the workers of Taranaki for their welcoir ? to delegates. Dealing with the reason why the federation was meeting, he said the old members would agree that the conditions of working for watersiders had improved on what they were a few years ago. and the reason this had been brought about was that the representatives had got together in conference, and used the power at the dictates of its members for the general benefit. 1’ ■ said there was a certain conservatism in

every labor section which liad to be broken down in order that the class might march on; this, however, was not the worst, as there were certain labor forces which allied themselves with the opposition against the formation of a labor party, through which their vojee could be exercised. Referring to Mr. Shailer Weston’s address to the Employers’ Association. Mr. Glover said he thought that the sign on the wall was that wages would be brought down, but if the standard of wages and living was to be kept up the workers would have to come together as one solid body to oppose any move in the direction mentioned. Mr. J. Flood (Lyttelton) proposed the “New Zealand Labor Party,” and recalled the history of the first attempt in New Zealand to form an independent body, representing the workers of the Dominion. As a member of the executive of the National Labor Party Mr. T. Brindle replid to the toast, and emphasised that it was never more essential that the labor section should get together. COST OF LIVING. Mr. J. G. Bruce (Wellington), in proposing the toast of the Workers’ Council, said he was pleased to see that in a small place like New Plymouth they had got on the right road to unity. He congratulated the workers on having joined together by their council, and also remarked on the fact that they had possessed a social hall. He was pleased to see the list of unions affiliated to the council, and if there were any body

of workers in New Plymouth who were not organised he tnought the sooner they took the step the better it would be. They had seen that it was proposed to reduce the wages of the civil service from the Governor-General down, but the workfer could not afford to reduce his standard of living. It cost £1 •7s 8d to buy a sovereign’s worth of i goods as represented by 1914 values. I Mr. Massey had said that he did not ’ want to see the wages reduced to 1914 'level but he did not think it was in Mr. i Massey’s control, as New Zealand was lin the hands of trusts just as much as I any other country. The Government i had - refused Armour’s a license but they had shipping trusts. The shipowners of New Zealand could be counted on the buyers of two hands. “We have been classed as everything that is undesirable,” remarked the speaker, “but what of the shipowners. They have no stake in New Zealand, but what they can get out of it.” Mr. W. H. Fitzpatrick, replying to the toast of the Workers’ Council, referred to the early days of the movement in New Plymouth and said that though the number of supporters had been few then they battled on.

ALLIANCE OF LABOR. The chairman, proposing “The New Zealand Alliance • of Labor,” said the principal object of this body was that all the unions in New Zealand should he consolidated in one big body. As Air. Glover had aptly stated in explaining the aims of the alliance some time ago the order of’the 0.8. U. was more important ,vo workers than the 0.8. E. Air. T. Mcßrine (Auckland) responded to the toast of the alliance. He said if there was one thing more than another that the workers needed it was organisation. If there was anyone, present who doubted the needs of tions linked together and only in this er then there was only dne person who could help him—a mental specialist. The Alliance of Labor existed to link together the workers craft by craft in each industry. When the worker* could go to the employer in one combined federation representing an industry then they had more chance of gettimr iujutinp. From this iedera-

tions linked together and only in this manner could the workers deal with their national and international troubles.

The secretary of the alliance (Air. J. Roberts) said it was barely two years ago since the organisation was formed and they now had a membership of 40,000; twelve months hence they hoped to have passed the half-century mark. If they desired to preserve the standard of living they would have to join up with the movement. There were men with the ability and brains and all that was needed was the enthusiasm. They had been accused of receiving secret correspondence and of getting money from Russia, but the only thing they had got was the support of the men and women who constituted the working-class. There was an organised attempt in New Zealand to discredit the Alliance of Labor because it had been successful. They did not want the plaudits of anybody, but they did want the support of the workers of New Zealand. The movement was progressing and he thought that in a few years the number of people who were standing aloof from the Labor alliance would be very few. Air. Roberts indicated that before the New Plymouth conference closed it was hoped' to hold a public meeting to explain the methods of organisation, and an invitation was extended to everyone to be present.

Concluding, Mr. Roberts expressed the hope that the workers would join together and that the period would arrive when the standard of living of the working-class would ’be raised; where they would find no more little faction fights; and where the workers, by organisation, effort and enthusiasm, would finally achieve working-class emancipation, and would own what they produced. Other toasts were “Local Unions,” proposed by Mr. Glover, and responded to by Messrs. J. O’Brien (Freezers’ Union;’and J. Clark (Carpenters), and the Press