LABOUR AND THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 259, 25 July 1908, Page 11

LABOUR AND THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

DISCUSSION BY LABOUR CONFERENCE* STATE CONTROL. • • . The question of the attitude of labour towards tho liquor. traffic was again discussed by tho Trades and Labour Councils' Conference yesterday afternoon. On this > occasion* delegates spoke in favour of State control. Mr. M. J. Rearclon moved:— That this Conference urges the'workers of the Dominion to vote No-License, • with a view of taking the ■ trade under the control of the State. .The mover stated that if No-License was found to be a failure, the. trade' could bo brought under State control without compensation being paid to tho persms for tho businesses they had not created. Tho population' created the- business. Tho . value of the license was not tho £40 paid for. it. Ho re-' ferred to the trade's' attitude, in regard to the Cooks' and Waiters' Union. There was aii exhibition of five or.,six of tho best lawyers in New Zealand pitted against: the Secretary of the Cooks' and, Waiters' Union. No body of employers in the Dominion hadever expended so. much money in a legal fight as .thought .'against tho cooks!, and waiters. Then there was the spectaclo of leading publicans taking off their coats and working in bakehouses during tho operative bakers' strike. ; - .Voices Shame. . . ■ Mr. Reardon: It could be'partly excused in 0110 instance, because the publican had an interest in tlie business. But iii another caso there was no oxcuse. It was strange that a determined effort against tho tTado had not boon instituted by the workers years ago. No trade in the world had dono gifch harm to all classes as the',liquor trade. Had tho trade benefited labour? It had: been an absolute-.injury, to it. A fight had been put up against it by a body in no way connected with labour. Tho Labour party should now take a ! hand.

• Mr. Carter said there could be no allianco between liquor and labour. Labour had to bo hostile to the traffic. Liquor sapped the' vitality and intelligence of the worker. He hoped the resolution would be carried. The organised trade was fighting the workers, and it was one of the most dangerous enemies the worker had.. Mr. Hart strenuously opposed the motion. The Conference was trying to make a laugh-ing-stock of itself. Voices: No! no! ... ' Mr. Hart said. they , might- as . well introduce religion. . . Mr.. Carey: What, .are they squeaking aboutp ' • Mr. Hart said worker would be set against worker. if this question was introduced.' It was undignified. The members have been expressing, their personal opinions. It was one of the worst conferences he had ever attended.,

Mr. Hickey heatedly objected to such a, statement. He was there to use his judgement, and hot to talk to the Press like soma delegates were doing. , . . . Mr. Hart: I am. not talking to the Press.. • , Mr. E. J. Carey said labour should make a declaration on the subject. The trade ■had wanted their employees .to work seventy, hours a week without a holiday.' '■ 1 Mr:'J. Jackson moved that the Conference urgo the Government to take over the con-, trol of the liquor traffic. : Mr. J. Thorn (Christchurch) said the State owned' a house, and more drunks had been turned out of it than out of the licensed' houses in tho district. - ; A .Voicc: What about Bellamy's ? • Mr. - Thorn: 1 1 don't 'know anything about ■Bellamy's. Ho did not favour compensation to tho trade. ' The amendment was lost and the motion carried by 17 to 7.