LABOUR BREACH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 91, 17 April 1936, Page 8

LABOUR BREACH.

SHARP DIFFERENCE.

LEADER "WALKED OUT." A CONFERENCE INCIDENT. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. In the closifig hours of the annual conference of the New Zealand Alliance of Labour, which concluded at Wellington this week, a sharp difference of opinion occurred and culminated in a number of delegates breaking their association with the organisation by walking out of the conference. Among these was Mr. Jim Roberts, who has been one of the most prominent men in the Labour movement in New Zealand for many years. Itis stated that Mr. Roberts and his supporters did not agree with move made by the conference for bringing about greater unity among the industrial workers of New Zealand. The official report stated that the conference admitted a number of new affiliations and amended its rules, giving wider powers to the district councils, the effect being to relieve the head office in Wellington- of much work. The question of bringing about complete unity in the industrial movement was earefullv considered, and the obstacles to unity, so far as the Alliance of Labour was concerned, were removed by the conference. It was stated to-day that Mr. Roberts did not agree with the new principles adopted, but that he and his supporters were in a minority so far as the Alliance was concerned. The conference was prepared to go ahead with its new policy. No effort would be made to induce Mr. Roberts and his friends to change the attitude they had adopted.