A CHANGED SPIRIT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 164, 11 July 1914, Page 10

A CHANGED SPIRIT.

FEDERATION OF LABOUR. ADOPTS MODERATE MKTHOPS. NEW LEADERS ELECTED. (By Telegraph.—Special to 'Star.") WELLINGTON", Friday. A remarkable change lias come over the spirit as well as the personnel of the Federation of Labour, it is not; forgotten, even by the casual observer of Jjibour politics, that when the Unity Conference met in 1913 in Wellington! the militants of the movement were in complete possession. Moderate trade-unionists, such as the executive of the Amalgamuteci Society of Railway Servants, were so convinced of the hopelessness of tarrying their views into effect that they withdrew at an early stage from the conference. This year they did not send a delegation, though the conference is much nearer their viewpoint to-day. Ciianges made in the chief officers of the organisation clearly indicate that the extreme methods have been jettisoned. The Dominion organisation has gone, and with' it the Dominion organiser (Mr. W. T. Yonng) has disappeared from the presidency. Mr. Robert Semple is no longer; a national organise-r. and Mr. Hiekey has also ceased to hold high office. The new president is Mr. D. <i. Sullivan, a thoughtful Canterbury Labourite of the less extreme type, while Mr. Pagan, of the West Coast, is the new secretary. Syndicalism Las lost its charm. The delegates who comprise the present conference are firmly and unanimously of opinion that the victories of their class are to be won peiicefully through the ballotbox instead of by the menace of the general strike.

Details of ibe vo'tingareasifollowti:— iPresKl-ent, D. G. SuHiv-an, Canterbury, 08 votes (plected)" T. Auckland. '20. votes. 'Viee-pnvident. A. ißcaser. Auckland, :>S vnfcte: .1. Dowgray. West Coa>t, ii T. Arms-XTong. (West- Coat;, 10 votes. A i-woTiil .ballot resulted in Mr. Roeser's election. J-'-acretary and irraearer. ifa.r!- Pagan, [nangahma ■Milifr.?' I'liion. 50 rotes (elected-): J. Read. 'Wellington. i(\ xattts. Coimnittee, Wesley- .Rkterdß. Auckland, AY. E. I'arn-. Pahcereton Xorth. (M. Lai-icy. Wellington. J. Alewiter, Saut-nhnd, \V. McAlloa Otago. F. JJllin, Canterbury. .1. Townsend. MaJ-lborouffh. D. Colder. Hiukp's Bay amli iPorerty Bay, H. Copperemith, \V«st Coaet.

it was rrsolvp.l ihat tlio following rilarvcs be paid: — Pri'riuVnt. £lo per vo:ir: secreiai-j" .xr.d T-reafturrr. .UoO. It H"a« decided that nnsmdmi'tio!!'.- for the I o-;t!OTi of nfficens be called' for during ihe montih of November. 1!)14. and that t-he Hoctirdi take place , as e-oon as po>sible thcrpaffcer Jrr plebiscite, offU-civ to risump 'thrir duties at the end of thy THE AMENDED CON'STITL'TTOX. The conference a-J'opted fhe following claueee in the constitution: — Trade or indiu'slrial lurtom* shall (have complete local epU'-govtrrameiit, but under no circumstances ehall they 'have ■the power to ta-k<« any &tcp invohnng any ot''.ie.r org'anjiiation.'iivi.he'tFeilerntion. No union e':iail etrikf* 'Withorrt first placing the matter unTcwnri'dly itt the liands of tire council. No council shall inroWe tlve national organisation On any strike without •first, placing the mailer unreservedly in , th'C 'hati-ii of the national executive. Ativ union -or district council violating the provision ihereiu oontained shall not re<«ivei the support of the L'ffited Federation, andi sliall be im-nrcd'i-itely An open ooii-gre-s of all 'brma-fide trade and induetriril unione in _Yew Zealand, alliliated or non-affiliated, sliall be hold iinnnaliv.