THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JUNE 30, 1913. THE UNITY CONGRESS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 30 June 1913, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JUNE 30, 1913. THE UNITY CONGRESS.

One of the most, important confe ouoes ever iicia in with uiie itaDuur l'air by in 'iSw >oaiaiid will .taKe place at Wellington lins week. It expected spat several nundred delegates' will present, and that they will represent practically the whole of the,. Labour interests in this Dominion. A few months back a (Conference was oaiied by tue Federation; organisation that in many respects was hostile to what was known as the Labour Party. As a result of the deliln tions at that couiorenoe, it was suggested that a Constitution might be framed which would enable the whole of the labour forces to combine. An Unity Committee was thereupon formed, having for its object the .bringing together of the different labour factions and the disseminar; tion 6f iite|r&tuje dealing with the question of organisation generally. The-Congress to be held this week will finally deal with the subject of a Constitution, and will the progress that Has been made in the direction of - oombinition. As Socialism will be the force that thepresent Government will have to seriously contend with in the future, the result of the coining Congress will be awaited with more than ordinary interest. Is it possible to frame a Constitution that will meet the views of the Labour Unions, the Socialists, the Labour JFederatiopists, the Syndicalists, and the Industrial World Workers? If it is,, then a very ©olid political organisation wil' be constructed. But, if Labour is to gain a footing as an independent political party, it will require to strengthen its forces from outside. At the very outside, not more than one-third of the electors of the Dominion are identified with La<bour .Unions. The most that a combine Social-Democratio party could do would be to capture the city seats. There is not a rural electorate in the Dominion, with the possible exception of one or two where the flaxmilling and mining industries are established, that would dream\ of returning a Social-Democrat ' to the House. The object of Mr David McLaren and a few other of the leading Democrats, is to frane a Constitution that will appeal to small farmers and Radicals. If. this object oan be attained, it is hoped that- a sufficient number of "Liberal" votes will 'be seotfred to turn out Mr Massey and his party. But, from the correspondence that hag passed of late, it would serai to be exceedingly improbable that Mr McLaren will achieve hia purpose. There is, in fact, no real sympathy between the Tioder&te Labourites and the /Syndicalists and Socialists, The former desire that reforms shall fee brought

about by a process of politio.il evolution. The latter are convinced that the only w-ay ttj secuio the ob- j jeotive is by no moans of tho fjowerjfco create a national strike. Assuming, however, that mutual concessions were made, and a Constitution were constructed, that would bo Radical rather than Socialistic, is there any possible chance of the small farmers being brought into lino? We venture to think there is not. A great deal will, of course, depend upon the attitude of the Reform Party. We have urged for months past, and we urge again in ail sincerity, that the leaders of the Reform Party must dissociate themselves as fajr as possible from the pldtime Conservatives. This country will not. permit itself to be bound to the man of wealth and landed property. The legislation cnust be of a progressive Liberal character. There must not be pandering to land monoply on the one hand, nor to labour monopoly on the other. We believe that the great bulk of the people of this country are Liberal at heart', and we feel sure that Mr Maasey's aspirations axe Liberal in the truest sense of the term. When he was elected to bo Leader of the Opposition, on the defeat of Sir William Russell some ten years ago, it was because he was more Liberai in his ! opinions than Mr Jajies Allen aud otheCrs by whom he was surrounded. Since he hag beoome Prime Minister, he has shown a disposition to legislate for the good of the oountry as a whole, and not for the benefit ol the classes. He will require, however to keep a very stiff back, unless he wishes to court disaster. Only one or two mistakes like the appointmen of crusted Tories to the UpperHouse, and his position will be in sgrious jeopardy. The oountry does, not want Toryism, any more than it' wants Socialism. It can do very well without either. If Mr Massey is ■ wise, he will , steer a middle course, which is the Liberal course. The Liberals do not wish to be forced into the position of having to throw in their lot with the Socialists.. But there are many who would do this rather ;tiian see a return to Toryism. ' Sir Joseph Ward was defeated at the polls because the middle classes were tired of being dominated by the Labour Unions and were fearful lest- Socialism would make further inroads I upon th'e economic structure. We are still of the same opinion as we expressed 'at the true that Sir Joseph Waird went out of power, and that i s tha.t , there ahould be a combination between the Liberal forces of the Dominion to resist the unc.ronchmetit:--of Socialism. Unless this cart be ', done—and it can only be done by com- ■ promise--tliere i s nothing surer thai? that the' Srx.'ia {-Democrats will come into nower sooner or later.