LABOUR LAMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 171, 21 July 1910, Page 6

LABOUR LAMENTS.

A REFT IN TEE LUTE. DELEGATBS FALL OUT ON SOCIALIS-L The agenda paper at the Trades and Labour Conference, now sitting in Auckland, is as long as the menu at a civic banquet, and t-nough the delegates have been hard at work since Monday last, they have only touched the fringe of the numerous recommendations which go to make up the paper. Socialism and the cacophonous coinage " socialisation " (which is a sort of portmanteau word, meaning to the faithful, the workers' millennium, and many other things besides) ■ are to the Conference very much like Charles the First to David Copperfield's delightful but most unpractical friend, Mr. Dick. They will keep cropping up, and this is practically the only question that has caused the talk which has been occupying the Conference since the opening day. Behind it, however, there is a bigger question, and if ever a distinct Labour party is formed in the Dominion, the Conference will be noted, down as one of the turning points when the history of the movement comes to be written.

In seconding a motion congratulating the Federal Premier, Mr. Fisher, on his elevation, Mr. O'Byrne said he hoped the workers of Australia would soon have the opportunity of Tetu-jming similar greetings to the Dominion. This is the keynote of the whole Conference. The work which is usually done at these gatherings, which represent organised labour in New Zealand, has been tacitly shelved so far, and all the energy of the delegates has been concentrated upon an attempt to evolve something round which the widely scattered forces of labour can rally, and become a distinct political power. The position is somewhat complicated to the man in the street, and requires explanation. Some three years ago the Conference evolved the constitution of a body which it was proposed to call the "N.Z. Labour Federation." Since then the Miners' Federation on the West Coast of the South Island stepped in, borrowed the name, and registered their organisation, which resembles the Federation of the Conference in name only. Outside the miners there are not more than four unions in this registered federation. The . federation which the Conference attempted to launch (but which lias never actually come into being) is distinctly industrial in character,; and was designed to cement organised labour.

The first thing the Conference did this year was to evolve the platform of " The New Zealand Labour Party," which is purely political in character, and is designed to bring under one head not only trades unionists, but the unorganised worker and all " progressives." The contentious part of the platform was the question of the wording of the objective. The delegates admit they are all socialists, but there are extremists and moderates. The extreme party wanted the object to be "The socialisation of the means of production, distribution and exchange." The moderate party favoured "nationalisation," and after a long discussion, had the words "gradual public ownership" retained in place of "socialisation," the voting being twelve to four against the extreme party.

Yesterday the delegates at last got to the agenda paper, and the first matter for consideration was the alteration of the objects of the Federation of Labour which the Conference evolved in 1907 (and is still under consideration), by substituting the following for rule '_: —" The socialisation of the means of production, distribution and exchange." This would, it may be mentioned, bring the objective of this Federation into line with that formed by the miners. Being one of the remitted recommendations on the order paper, this suggestion has been considered by the bodies affiliated to the Conference, and it was understood that twelve delegates were instructed to vote for it. The private opinions of the delegates as indicated in the voting on the objective of the New Zealand Labour parly apparently do not accord with the principle involved in the proposed alteration. The debate waxed warm, but everybody thought the alteration would be made, as a matter of course, as twelve votes would easily carry the proposal.

Just before the question was put, however, Mr. Noot, one of the Wellington delegates, discovered that under the constitution of the Federation no rule could be altered, except at a Federal Council meeting. The Ohairnian ruled tha .t this was fatal, and the proposed alteration went by the Board. A motion disagreeing from the chairman's ruling was thrown out by ten votes to six. It was the irony of fate that the next matter for consideration was the following recommendation from the Auckland Council: —"That Conference be requested to devise a scheme to bring Labour closer together and heal the many breaches now existing." The Auckland delegates had had charge of the proposed alteration of the Federation rules, aud naturally they were not in the most favourable mood to -adduce arguments in support. Mr. Savage (Auckland) was obviously annoyed, and spoke strongly about "'carrying things by brute force," and throwing out matters on a quibble. Mr. -loxsom (Auckland) was equally scathing, and accused delegates of "ratting" and going back on their instructions. It was, he said, well-known that twelve delegates had been instructed to support the alteration of the Federation rules, but they got out of it by the raising of a side issue. He was afraid there had been "hobnobbing" outside the Conference. Hon. J. T. Paul (Otago) repudiated any collusion on the matter, and said the rest of the Conference might well say to the mover of the present motion: "Physician, heal thyself." Let Auckland start healing their own breaches, and then go on to the rest of the Dominion. Mr. Howard (Canterbury) would not have minded the vote if he was sure it was the honest opinion of the Conference, but he feared there had been organisation out-side. Mr. Xoot hotly repudiated the insinuation of the Auckland delegates. It was absolutely untrue. There had not been any collusion. He had found out the rule quite by accident. He resented the remarks from tlie Auckland delegate, and threw it back in his teeth. Mr. Hutchison (Wellington): Is this an attempt to heal the breach? (Laughter.) Mr. Carey (Wellington) thought some people judged themselves whenever they opened their mouths. It was so with certain people who were supposed to lead in certain circles of Socialism. Mr. Horning (Auckland) objected to Socialists being dragged into the discussion. Mr. Carey returned to the charge.

Mr. Howard vis it right to'tah- V a party that is not represented sT^ o^ Mr. Sullivan (Canterburvl Z _ implored the delegates to mg, and get to work on would do for the workers T party in the past had *| Mr. O'Byrne (Southland) snm _ \ referring the "healing motion" to^ 5 '* 1 mittee to devise sonic scheme forV? 1 * mg the different sections togethe r -S' The motion was carried, and" v 0 Byrne's suggestion was adopted >' one seemed anxious to «o on+V ■ mittee, which, however! w a * ,! v m " formed, and Mr. Mo'xsom rehl& agreed to the request of the <3& to act as convener. '""Wcrenco FEDERATION OF LABOUR This morning a committee, t> 'U, .. the question of the FederationX»?T ferred, submitted a report ing:-"(l) That the hour be brought into existence will, little delay as possible; (2) fgfifH incoming executive be instructed to 1 E circulars to all miions, federation councils who have signified, their _f tion of joining the Federation^-_,tw ing that the next conference.be held ' accordance with the constitution o f \? Federation, the date and place to be ik cided by this conference." .

-, ? c n !^ er t0 a l ucstl °n, .the chair-,,, said if this were carried, the nestvejS meeting would be held under the Fedm tion of Labour, and not under, tta Trades and Labour constitution. Wm Mr. Howard: With 73 unions? ■ V ! Hon. J. T. Paul said the confab nexu year would be just as represent*! tive as the present one. It would cmi sist not only of the 70 unions t_jtjy promised to join, but plus the d___s councils, and would be quite as.rife! scntative of Labour as at present. Bp Some question arose as to ho* fha Trades Councils would be represent-H some of the unions affiliated- testis councils not approving of the Federation of Labour

The chairman said that iH-i'f&foji tion was brought into operation/tls representation would he • rule 7 of the Federation. "-':.-' .-VkSf

Mr. Carey: If a council joins fit jfcj, eration it is entitled to its full rew&< sentation and capitation. ' ; The Chairman: That is so. ".'',?*.} The committee's report was carnV hy 13 to 4. , y ---™

The committee further that the incoming executive, be insiniiti ed to communicate with the N2. __ient, Federation, and arrange a conference, with a view to amalgamation; and,'sec* ondly, that it be a recommendation to each local council to use its best«i(leavours to work harmoniously, mth all labour and progressive bodies. •

Mr. Carey said he was sure'thit.il they could deal with the mass of the miners, there would be no difficulty of amalgamation. There were only one or two men who were trying their' utmost to thrust their own political—not trades union—opinions down the throitj of the minors. V Mr. Long was sure that there mvwfj be no difficulty in amalgamating, ertntj If they dealt with the. leadars .in ifo } - Miners' Federation. Mr. Sullivan said Mr. Semple, who-hid considerable infiuence in the Minb , Federation, had himself expressed ad*, elro for amalgamation. • .'.■'" Tho report was adopted.