FEDERATION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 282, 21 August 1908, Page 7

FEDERATION.

' • I—■—THE LABOUR MOVEMENT. "candidates for' parliament. Mr. M. J. Reardon, secretary of tiio Wellington General Labourers' Union, who returned from the south yesterday, tols a reporter that he addressed roetings in Dunedin and Christchurch on the subject of a general labourers' federation. The idea of federation seems, he said, to have caught on in all the centres, and so far as present indications go the majority of unions throughout the Dominion ivould be federated within the nest twelve months This applied not only to general labourers, but to all kinds of labourers, and quite apart from the conference proposal. The' General Labourers' Federation, he continued, would be ail accomplished' fact within the next month or so. Iu Otago Mr. Reardon was asked to include shearers, musterers, and agricultural labourers in the federation, but this point has not yet been decided. - NO-LICENSE. • The No-License resolution passed by the recent Trades and Labour Councils' Conference has, mentioned Mr. Reardon, caused considerable discussion in all the contros, especiajly in Christchurch. The matter was referred to each "union, but many of them evaded the question by passing a resolution not to endorse it on the ground that it was not on the Conference agenda paper. Where the matter has been: discussed impartially, and apart from side issues, tho majority of unions have favoured the decision by Conference, although many prominent labour men realise the danger of introducing a tendency towards disintegration..

LABOUR CANDIDATES. ■ Mr. Reardon also gave some particulars of tho political aspect at Dunedin. A requisition is being "circulated asking Mr. D. M'Lareu, of Wellington, to contest tluncdin Central against tho Hon. J. A. Millar. Tho idea, he said, is being taken up enthusiastically by the trades unionists there. It is suggested that Mr. Downey Stewart, who is at present out of the Dominion, but who has been in communication with the labour people, should stand against Mr. Arnold, the sitting member for Dunedin South. ■ It is mentioned that Mr. R. Slater, late workers' representative on the Arbitration Court, should come out against Mr. T. K. Sidey, M.P. for Cavorsham.