TRADE UNIONISM.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 85, 10 April 1912, Page 2

TRADE UNIONISM.

CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON PRELIMINARY PROCEEDINGS. AMALGAMATION. WITH FEDERATION OF LABOUR.

The delegates to the Trades Councils' Conference resumed their deliberations at Parliament Buildings to-<lay. The Hon. J. T. Paul, M.L.C., presided. A letter was received from the Wellington Working Men's Club extending the privileges of the club to all visiting delegates. A hearty vote of thanks ■was extended to the c)ub' for its kindness. •Fraternal greetings were received from Mr. A. W. Hogg, who endorsed the proposal for a united Labour Party. ■ Mr. C. M'Senzie representing the Drivers' Federation, waited on the conference, and presented the resolution which had been unanimously carried by the Drivers' Conference. Mr. M'Kenzie briefly reviewed the. resolutions, and the conference decided •to consider the suggestions when tho order paper committee had drawn up its report. UNITY PROPOSALS ENDORSED. When the 'conference reassembled, the general principles of the Unity proposals •were formally adopted in so many word*, a-ud without discussion. - Mr. R. Bresn (Otago) then moved: "That the constitution of the federat turn be amended by the adoption of the unity proposals in whole "or in part, together with any further amendments which may bo agreed to, and such amended constitution shall take the place of the present constitution of the New Zealand Federation of "Workers, as endorsed by the Trades and Labour Coiincik. and affiliated unions." ' An amendment to withhold consideration until the Unity proposals had been considered was lost, and the motion was carried on the voice*. JOINING FORCES. Consideration of the following remits was postponed :: — > " That this branch of the Trades and Labour Council ask that eyery endeavour bo made to fix an amalgamation of .the Trades and Labour Council and the Federation of Labour, and that no ' hairsplitting ''be ' allowed to interfere in forming such an amalgamation ; and that a ballot of the" members of the Trades and Labour Council be token on the subject." " That the conference bo requested to make an effort to bring about the amalgamation of the f new Federations of Labour, and that a referendum on the tubject be taken of both federations." Mr. Coleman, in moving ' the latter remit, said that there was little difference between the two organisations, and he believed that the ' Unity scheme would do much to bring about an amalgams,-; tion. In Gisborne it would be a, big blow to the Trades and Labour Council if it lost two or three unions'. A representative of the 'Federation of Labour has been industriously working in the district. . Mr. J. Reid (Timaru) seconded tho motion. Where there were two rival organisation* in the field there . was a disposition on the part of' each, to criticise the other. This was very detrimental to fhe progress of the cause of Labour. They all recognised the difficulties and deplored- -them.-^A-t jireyiouß conferences debates, had taken" place on Labour's objective. At Auckland, for instance, the m«ro wording- of, the objective was the. difference,. which' prevented national union. , Moving about amongst organised worker^,, he. .-was satisfied that they were nojt' concerned with" the wording of the objective. ,It was urged that the two organisation* were at variance on principle->-that the unions stood for the Arbitration. ' Act and the federation for the strike method. This was not so. There was a feeling .in his district that the controversy between the two organisations had been^mainly carried on by the leaders and ;that to. a certain extent it had become personal. The result was that a judicial determination was rendered unlikely. He was certain that in the rank and file of labour there was a desire for. union. Mr. R. Ford (Southland) opposed the motion. The conference, he said, would simply be stultifying itself in adopting the motion. The Miners' Federation had h, chance to come into the fold and did not do so. If given sufficient time the federation would die a, natural death. The president said that the conference could not pass a motion to take a referendum ol the' members of another federation. Mr. Reid : By passing' the motion we challenge them to take the referendum. THE ACT OR THE STRIKE. Mr. Sullivan (Canterbury) said his co-delegates were under instructions to support the remit. It was a fact, however, that the only organisations which had endeavoured to bring about unity were the Trades and Labour Councils. (Hear, hear.) The councils had practically sacrificed their, own dignity in making these endeavours. The other organisation had practically laid it down that union was only possible on the basis* of a complete acceptance of its revolutionary platform. The Canterbury Trades Council was not prepared to do this. It wished to bring about' unity but th© basis would have to be settled iri conference between the two organisations. Mr. W. W. Naughton (Dunedin) said Mr. Sullivan had practically stated the viowb of the Wellington Council. The Miners' Federation had, thrown over tlie Arbitration Act. (A member : No.). Mr. Naughton maintained, that it was almost entirely so. It was ail very well ' for a large organisation to take up that attitude, but iL would never suit the general bulk of unions which supported arbitration. Tho Wellington Council desired amalgamation, but the outlook, in his opinion, was not very hopeful. He instanced what had happened in the case of the Wellington Wharf Labourers' Union, which had cancelled its registration in order that it might j strike if it saw fit. Mr.. Breen (Otago) said that hourt and houTS of discussion had been wasted at previous conferences .on tb.e same subject. At the last conference a delegation was set up to "make a further effort to secure amalgamation of the two organisations." AN ALTERED PROPOSAL. - At this stage Mr. Coleman agreed , to withdraw his motion and substitute one affirming that the delegates to the conference — if th© Unity proposals were adopted — should do their utmost to bring about an amalgamation of the Trades and Labour Council and the Federation «f Labour, Registered. Mr. Breen held that this did not alter the complexion of the matter. How far was the federation prepared to go? It wanted the- socialisation of the means of production, distribution, and exchange. As far as he was concerned they could have that . Mr. Naughton : Yes. they can do that in five minut-eb ! Mr. .Breen. added that there was the more important question of the means of settling industrial disputes. They could not have the Act titid the strike too. The Trades Coiuicils were asked to give something which was quite unreasonable. Befeimee had Leen made to peisonalities. These personalities had ' not foeeii indulged in on their Bide—they,

were tire results of untruthful statements. THE PRESIDENT'S VIEWS. The president agreed that "this side of the movement," had done everything possible to bring about amalgamation. The leadeis of the Federation of Labour, or some of them, were not prepaied to promulgate a policy acceptable to the majoiity of the workers of New Zealand, but one which was personally acceptable to them. They wero in the position of dictators ; they were not administering to the desires of the democracy. He did not think the motionin view of the Unity proposals— should be adopted. The Federation of Labour' had, by its attitude, forfeited its right to take part in any unified scheme in the interests of Labour. Mr. Sullivan (Canterbury) agreed that nothing short' of the adoption of its revolutionary constitution would satisfy the leaders of the Federation of Labour. Mr. Coleman (East Coast), in reply, emphasised the fact that the real need was- to get into touch with the rank and file. The motion was carried, with two-dis-sentients.