LABOUR UNITY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14947, 21 April 1914, Page 8

LABOUR UNITY.

THE BED FEDS,

A LABOUR LEADER'S OPINIONS

Prior to his departure for Wellington last night. Mr D. Moriarty; secretary of the New Zealand Furniture Trade Federation, and secretary of the Wellington Furniture Trade "Union, gave to a representative of "Tho Press" his opinions on .the. remit that was boforo the Congress on Saturday regarding affiliation with the Social Democratic Party. Mr Moriarty was not able to be present at Congress on Saturday, owing to tho serious illness of his mother. "I regret," Mr Moriarty said, 'having had to leave' Congress through the sad circumstances of my mother's ill-

ness. I have read the report of the _ discussion at Congress on tho proposal to take a ballot on the question of joining the Social Democratic Party. As . far as the Wellington Union is concerned I may say that bcfori- I went to Congress, acting under instruction, 1 visited tho different branches in Wanganui, Palmcrston North, Ma-ster^on, - Hastings, and Napier, and at each place resolutions were carried unanimously instructing mo to oppose the remit proposing that a ballot should be taken on the question of joining the Social Democratic Party. Tho members Tealised that union funds should not, under any consideration, "be used for political purposes. They did not. consider it a fair tiling that a man should be compelled to join a union in order to got work and then have the funds of the union used for political purposes— in fact, they object strongly to have any particular brand of politics rammed down their throats. The members of . the union have always tabooed politics io connexion with the union, and will not havo anything to do in any shape or form with politics. Though the Congress may decide to take a baJlot on the, question, the Wellington Union will not allow its funds or its capitation to tho Federation to be used to support tho Social Democratic Party. Personally. 1 feel that the delegates at tho Congress were not aware of the true position of affairs when they consented to a ballot being taken. If they had realised that boforo the Furniture Trade Federation joined the Social Democratic Party it would be necessary to strike a levy of 4s per member which, on the total membership, is equivalent to at least £250. In addition, before a single member of the Federation would be recogndsed as a member of the Social Democratic Party ho would havo to pay a subscription of 6s. If the delegates had understood tho position they would not have entertained the, proposal for one moment.

"What does the Social Democratic - Party stand for? What is it? What have tho workers to pain by belonging to it? The Social Democratic Party lias insulted tho. workers by going, cap 3n hand, to Australia to borrow funds for organising purposes. What an insult to tho workers, of New Zealand and to those who have to como after them, •to know that Australians should think that we have descended so low that such a pass was possible in New ZeaJand. A fair question to. ask at this juncture is: For what purpose has this money been borrowed? Each union is running its own , business, evory organisation is in a healthy' condition. Personally, I consular mat the best political party to return at tho forth-c-onvmg election is £xie Massey Party. . Pleaso don't misinterpret mc. What I moan to convey is that if the Massey Party is allowed to stay in power for another three years the rank and file "•of the "electors—they are a new generation in Now Zealand and don't realise the position—will torn the Massey Party out and gqt rid of all the so-called leaders of to-day. Industrial peace will assuredly follow legislation which ■ will prevent union funds beingusedfor political purposes, for it will have the effect of getting rid of the political waster and hanger-on who is the curse of tho Labour movement in New Zealand at the present time."