LABOUR UNIONS IN CHILDISH MOOD.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16209, 11 May 1918, Page 12

LABOUR UNIONS IN CHILDISH MOOD.

(fitOK OtTE OW.V CORRESPONDENT.) SYDNEY, May 1

Australia has seven governors, seven staffs for Governors, seven gubernatorial residences, and a mass of other expenses, all relating to a rather foolish, worn-out system. So it can be said that Australia, while quite well disposed towards the worthy gentlemen who come out here as the representatives of tho King, does not like Governors. But the average Australian is not foolish enough on that account to insult the men who are here as servants of a system: that reductio iid absurdum has been left for the Labour Party. Sir Walter Davidson, tho new Governor of New iSouth Wales, has already proved himself wise, amiable, and tactful, and has made a good impr&ssiou upon the very critical people of this Slate. In the cld-fashioned way, opportunities are being afforded various sections of the peoplo to meet his Excellency, and the Lord Mayor recently arranged a function, fixed for to-night, at which representatives of the Labour unions would be presented to tho Governor.

This proceeding has now developed into a screaming farce. It seems that the Lord Mayor asked the secretary of the Labour Council for a list of unions. Tho latter functionary was extremely suspicious: lie was certain there was a trap somewhere. He was _rcpeatedl.v reassured from the Town iiall, and finally supplied the list, but only on the distinct understanding that there must be nothing of a political nature about the gathering. No mention was to be inado of recruiting, of the part of Labour in the war, or any other "controversial subject." Then the formal invitations were issued to individual unions. They caused quite a flutter. Each petty littlo union cxocutivo saw in the "con-VL>r.-,a;-,iono ' a dark and deadly plot against tho Labour cause. 'The Labour Council wns bombarded with inquiries and requests for guidance. The secretary said that he was satisfied, so they ought to_ be. So a majority of the unions gingerly accepted the . invitation, but. many refused point-blank. Now a new complication ha 3 entered. Invitations were issued to all trade unions, and iheso included anti-strike unions formed after the big industrial upheaval —arbitration unions as they were called in New Zealand. Their name is anathema to the unions which fallow the Labour Council, and when the latter learned that some of the free unions are to attend tho Governor's function, they promptly cancelled thenacceptance of the invitation. Tliis action has been taken by a considerable number of unions which say that "true blue"' unions cannot possibly meet "bogus" unions on terms of social equality. Jt is the silliest and most childish thing seen in the recent discreditable history of Labour in this State; but it is quite typical of the class of men in charge of the movement at presont. Just what is going to happen at the "cr.nvprsazione'' only the event itself will show.