UNITY URGED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 80, 5 April 1939, Page 12

UNITY URGED.

DOMINION WORKERS.

INDUSTRIAL AND POLITICAL

FEDERATION COWFEREHCE.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON", Tuewiav.

The opinion that there were frw other countries in the world io-dar where annual conferences were hv)<l attended by workers from j>ra<ticallv every section of industry wji* rxpr<wn<d by ihe Minister of Housing, ihe Hon. H. T. Armstrong, addressing at the third annual conference of the Xew Zealand F<vJerjition of Labour. Upward of 300 delegates, ropnvontin" 175.722 workers affiliated wjih ihe federation, were present.

I Mr. Armstrong was accompanied ]y the Minister of Internal Affairs, tie Hon. W. E. Parry, both Ministers being accorded an enthusiastic welcome. It in e.vpecte<l that the Prime Minister, tie lit. Hon. M. .T. Savage, and the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, xfiii attend to-morrow"* session. Mr. Armstrong conjrralulafM th» federation on the excellence of Jh»« orpnnUation. He stressed the need for unity among workers, both induttrul and political, particularly as there were forces at work endeavouring 1o bring about the destruction of the Labour j Government. The Government had 'little to complain of concerning the cooperation it had r>*cejved from workers and looked to a continuance of that co-operation. Referring -to his term of office a« Minister of Labour. Mr. Armstrong Mid timt what he had done wax what he 'honestly and conscientiously heliered was in the tic*t interests of the w-orlceit and the Labour movement generally. Changing Times. Mr. Parry referred to the changing time*. What yesterday they had preached to the ]icoplc from the public platform km now legislation. The struggle to attain the position they [occupied to-day Lad been long and ! arduous. The day'e proceedings -were devoted mainly to consideration of the annual report. The conference adopted a recommendation of the executive that where disputes between unions are referred to the national executive the unions mu«t accept it* decision, subject to the rijflt to appeal to the Trades Council or the annual conference. The question* of immigrant* md refugees was ateo discussed. Following a report that the executive had already discussed the matter and its poadble repercussions on the industrial movement, it wae decided to urge the Government to give preference to the admission of workers, provided they were suitable to the needs of the country.