The Federation of Labour.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15022, 17 July 1914, Page 6

The Federation of Labour.

In tho current- issue of the "Maori- " land Worker there is printed the full official report of tho Red Fed. Congress, which the new president has assured v. resulted in turning the Federation a nice quiet pink. This report, docs not bear out Mr Sullivan's anxious assurances. On tho contrary, it makes quite clear the fact that any change that has been made has been purely tactical, and is only skin-deep. The first discussion arose over the titlo of the organisation, which,a section of the delegates appeared anxious to alter, but a speech by Mr Semple persuaded the tacticians that tactics did not require a new name. Even in tho obviously diluted report of his speech, thero are feigns that Mr Semple insisted upon the present title with the fierceness with which he talked his way through the strike, and the Congress's submission to his command upon this point is clear evidence that the <=" ; rit of the Red Feds. is unchanged, although temporarily suppressed owing to what ono delegate called tho "untoward circumstancos" of tho past year. Later on. when thanks wore being returned to the outgoing executive, it was again niado plain that' the ideas and methods of the strike bosses are still the ideas and methods of the Federation. There was nothing but praise for "tho conduct of "the executive over'the late strike"; it was agreed that Mr Semple and his brethren Bad not been set aside, but only temporarily replaced, as Mr Semplo himself topk care to point out; and Mr Hickoy plainly hinted that further organising is to be a preparation for another trial of strength. Equally significant was the entertaining dobate upon the "preamble." It has evidently been felt that the old preamble, with its blunt and ferocious denunciation of tho employer and "the "wage-system," may repel many of tboso workers whose support is desired by the Reds. A new preamble, less ferocious, and so ipdefinito that one unsophisticated delegate described it as "absolutely meaningless," has been substituted. This curious composition consists of a long series of clauses commencing with "whereas," with a concluding clause affirming the necessity for solidarity. A pathetic feature of the discussion upon this point was the surprise and indignation of those delegates who desired to know why, the organisation being revolutionary, it did not frankly say so. Mr Semple was again usefully candid. He defended the new preamble on'the ground that it would enable the Reds to get " the rank and file" to come in and be taught. It was only a matter, he explained, of "changing tactics to suit "altered circumstances." The Federation, in short, is still the Federation which was responsible for the Waihi and watersiders' strikes. The Semples and Hickoys are temporarily withdrawn from the froni. rank, the preamble is changed, and a few minor alterations have been made, but there is not an atom of difference in th© spirit, character, and purposes of tho organisation. Nobody will be misled, either by the Federation's whimsical "tactics" or by its president's soothing story; everyono will know that if the opportunity offered the Federation would carr. out its threat to a.-enge itself on the community.