SPLIT IN THE LABOUR RANKS

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 520, 29 May 1909, Page 6

SPLIT IN THE LABOUR RANKS

•; ■:/■; "TOO , MUCH .SOCIALISM." ,: :. (BY TELEOUAFH—SPECIAL c.'OtlßE.irqNnnNT.) ' '■' : , ; v ;:? ;;*■.'; .''. May-27!. •■ At last, night's: meeting of, the'. Auckland Trades and Labour Council, letters were received ; from. tho Gumworkers' and Saddlers' Unions, expressing their intention, to sever their .connection, with the council. '■'■' ■ ■ Mr; -A.. Rosser, representing' the Tramway' .TJnioni said. that, ho' Tegretted that' hia union had , also;-, decided- to secede ( .mainly on the , ground of the expense which association with,'the council, ,' .... .'■ Another speaker, .a delegate from .the Bn» gihcMs'V TTmon, ■..stated .that, in his -union, there were-murmurs of disaffection. He believed..that-it-was because there was too' much Socialism, and-too much politics talked in,the council.' The object of the council should bo 'to secure .unanimity ■ amongst unionists, and not to''deal 'with extranequs matter.....'.-" '.'• '■■'; •'.■' : ' . .-This rather'candid, criticism of the council- and its; activities, drew..'protests from several members.. -They frankly avowed that they were Socialists,' arid that tho aims of the conncil were Socialistic, but insisted'that it was only- through politics that they could further the attainment of those ends. This being the case,'- the council would be. useless for .any purpose,: if. .it- were: riot a political organisation! .One speaker blamed the "non-descripta'^the-men, who, he said, were neither.true Labour,i'men nor Socialists—for all the trouble.in the matter of the'secession of onions..'.-. ; , ■ ■.' A motion yas' carried instructing the secretary,, to write to. the unions mentioned, innting them to -rcceive-'a deputation from the couHoil, which .would ask them to reconsider their .action.- . '. ■;. -. ''.■.•■..•