LABOUR CONGRESS

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 211, 7 September 1927, Page 7

LABOUR CONGRESS

SCENE IN EDINBURGH.

Miners Make Bitter Attack

On Committee.

LOUD CRIES OF DIBBENBION

(By Cable.—Press Aesociation.-Copyrietat

LONDON, September 6. The delegates to the Trades Union Congress at Edinburgh, after discussing Mr. Havelock Wilson's attitude in opposing extremist tactics, resolved that the council should report upon it immediately. The final session ended in disorder in consequence of a statement made by Mr. Peter Chambers, of Scotland, nominated by the Miners' Federation.

In criticising the Blanesburgh Com. mittee's report regarding the amendment of unemployment benefits Mr. Chambers said the signing of the report by the Labour delegates—Miss Margaret Bondfield, Mr. Frank Hodges and Mr. J- Holmes, had sent girls on to the streets.

The cries of dissension were so loud that Mr. Chambers could not obtain a hearing and left the rostrum excitedly warng his papers. Miss Bondfield vehemently replied. She pointed out that the Blancsburgh scheme was purely one of ineurancc. She said , . . A she had acted in the best interest* of the unemployed. Nevertheless the congress carried a resolution by 1,836,000 votes to 1.419 000 characterising the report as despicable and asking the executive to guard against such people as the signatories named representing the workers in future on important issues.

The boilennakers , delegate, Mr. Pollitt, criticised the general council for its failure to give attention to the activities of non-political unions such as the Seamen's Union, which, he said, was the greatest menace to the Labour movement, while time was wasted in attacking the Russians.

Mr. J. Sexton, M.P., said Mr. Havelock Wilsons record was brilliant, but Ins action in supporting non political unions in an endeavour to destroy the Miners' Federation had earned detestation.

It was announced that arrangements had been made to submit to-morrow an emergency motion in reply to the appeal of the Prime Minister," Mr. Baldwin, for industrial peace. The tenor of this motion was not revealed.

BRITISH ATTACKED.

NOT EYE TO EYE WITH MOSCOW

LONDON, September 6. The Riga correspondent of the "Times'* states that in connection with the Trades Union Congress at Edinburgh the central organisation of the Red trades unions in Moscow summoned an extraordinary plenary session of all available members. One speaker. Dogadoff, was particularly bitter about the unwillingness of tlie general council of the British organisation to sec eye to eye with Moscow concerning the danger of an anti-Soviet war, and to help rouse the world to the impending calamity.

It was decided to telegrapTi to the Edinburgh Congress condemning the union leaders and describing even Messrs. A. A. Purcell, M.P., and G. Hicka as traitors and as Mr. J. H. Thomas' assistants.