ONE BIG UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 210, 5 September 1925, Page 10

ONE BIG UNION.

LABOUR'S AIM. . Mr. Robert Semple, who has been | appointed temporary organiser for the \ Alliance of Labour, is at present in Auck- . land. In a conversation witli a, "Star" reporter, Mr. Semple stated that his mission in Auckland was to endeavour \ to bring together all tlie unions into on national organisation. At present there were two industrial federations in New Zealand, namely, the Trades Council and the Alliance of Labour. In April of this year, the Alliance of Labour convened an open conference which was held in Wellington, representing some 50,000 organised workers. At that conference the constitution of the Alliance of Labour was amended and '■ provisions were made to enable all, ' industrial unions to affiliate through the; 1 Trades and Labour Councils and for tlie i 1 purpose of giving effect to these decisions i he was. at present at work amongst the ! ! unions. ! . "I feel quite confident that the rank j I and throughout the Dominion arc * anxious for the one federation,"' said Mr. Semple. ''We live in the age of ' combination. The natural wealth of, not only New Zealand, but every country in the world, is controlled by national and international combinations and is governed by comparatively few people." It is little use for the opponents of Labour to endeavour, in any way, to present the consolidation of the Labour movement, both industrially and politically. The , creation of such an organisation is not ', 1 for lawless or destructive purposes, but I I for the purpose of securing a fuller and [ l happier life for those that compose it, > ! and to prevent unjust exploitation, \ cruelties or wrongs of any kind being L - imposed upon its members. Such organ- . isation can only play its part in the , peace of, the nation, in so far that it j has the right of representation at the annual conference of the League of Nations." "Do you know what a caveat is?" asked counsel of a witness in a case before the Hamilton Supreme Court, yesterday. "Oh, yes. T have a fair idea."' answered witness, "though I have never owned one." (Laughter). Mails which left Auckland via Vancouver on August 4 arrived in London on September 4 according to advices received to-day by the Chief Postmaster. The Ulimaroa, which left Sydney at I p.m. yesterday, has 151 bags ofinail for Auckland from Australia, and 19 bags from overseas. Mr. P. A. <le la Perrelic wishes to see so many trees planted in New Zealand that within fifty years tlie Government will be able to pay off the national debt :of the Dominion. When he expressed I thi* desire in the House of Kepresenfa- ] tivee, the Minister of Forestry (Hon. Sir H>aton Rhodes) said lie could hardly go \no far, but he hoped that in the time mentioned sufficient revenue would be secured from forestry operations to warrant, a substantial reduction in taxation.