LABOUR NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 88, 13 April 1912, Page 12

LABOUR NOTES.

(By ".Unionist.")

"THE UNITED LABOUR PARTY." After months of organisation work, after lengthy and repeated wnsidoration by the Labour, political, and industrial organised units and federations, find after days of discussion and deliberation by delegates representative of those' miita and federations in separate conferences, the echeme of unity so diligently propounded and advocated for so long by Professor Mill* bids fair to develop into actual accomplishment. It is too early, at time of writing, to say that the thing has been definitely established. On ono issue there is yet considerable division of opinion. The issue in question re mains to be dealt with by the Unity Conference, and, if agreement is arrived at there, then the unity of Labour, because of the conferences and gatherings and because of the work of Professor Mills, is nearer a reality than over yet in the history of the New Zealand Labour movement. Everywhere there ii mutual congratulations in Labour ranks over present results and prospects. The Unity Congress was the largest, most representative, most earnest meeting ol Labour men. a*hd supporters yet held in the Dominion. Between sixty and seventy delegates from organisations with a membership of possibly nearly 100,000, were in attendance. The name chosen for the new party arising out of the conference is specially applicable: "The United Labour Party of New Zealand." It is expressive of past discoid and disunity and of hopedfor combination m the Labour movement of the country in future. To the regret of all genuine Labour men it is, not fully and truly descriptive of the present position of organised Labour. At present j th« United Labour Party doea not embrace within ite ranks all the Labour organisations of the Dominion. The Miners' Federation and Railway Servants' Association were pot represented on the conference, and ar» out of the united party, bat, as indicated, there has been a gathering up of hitherto separated Labour bodies, quite big enough to merit for the new party the expressive title adopted. The proceedings of the conference have , up tilh now heen in committee. Of course, there were differences as to methods and tactics. "So many man, bo many minds," even in Labour congresses. But unanimity an to principle was there all the tinw*, and on other matters either compromise or majority rule obtained m the end. Time was, in the early Australian Labour conferences; when the main discussion of the meetings was on the wordjng of the "objective" of the party I Of late years, however, greatest attention in those meeting* ha« been devoted to the framing of practical platform planks rather than to the precise and concise wording of the objective. And it appears that Dominion Labour gatherings are following suit. There was discussion a» to what should be the " objective" of the United Labour Party, but it was not of the dogmatic kind, and after a little time agreement was arrived at. As adopted the objects of the new party are. in effect, to promote organisation, conserve Labour interests, consolidate political and industrial powera, and "to use the fruits of every partial victory to strengthen and continue' this work until the power to oppress and exploit any of the workers, •ither by .private monopolies controlling the Government, or through the private monopoly, ownership, and control of industryj shall utterly disappear, and there shall be secured for all the people power to purchase with their income th« total products of their labour— until, in short, th« means of production, distribution, and exchange (m 6O far as they conetitute m private hands instruments of oppression and exploitation) shall be socially owned and operated without proht and for the common good of all." The consensus of opinion on the conference was that the part quoted is definite enough, and distinctive enough to permit of the Miners' Federation or the bociahsta now joining the new party, always provided that they are in agreement with the rest of the Labour movement as to tho need of political as well as industrial activity for the betterment of working class conditions. . Much of, the time of the Unity meeting was spent on the rules and constitution of the new party. For the adoption of them meant not only the creation of a new machine, but also practically the absorption of the Political Labour Party established two years ago, and of the rrades Councils of long and admittedly useful existence. Delegates were alive to the position from the start; the other two conferences were held over so as to aUowof their delegates' participation in the Unity proceedings. As finally accepted, the constitution of the new party is a lengthy and comprehensive one. In effect, it provides for a series of organisations of labour, all bound to join in political" as well as industrial effort ; all grouped on the lines of industry; all extending from unit to organisation, from organisation to trade federations and district councils, into one grand central council of representatives of federations and groups. Generally, the discussion on the constitution was in reference to ways and means and methods of procedure. There was only the one big question— that of the pledge. Wanganui representatives irom the unions and Labour Party Branch were known to be keen on the excision of it from any constitution, while the large majority of delegates were as insistent in the opposite direction. It is a tribute to the earnestness of all delegates to record that the result of the discussion on the subject was the unanimous adoption of the following undertaking and declaration as a condition) of membership: — "I hereby acknowledge myself a member and agree to accept and loyally adhere to the principles, rules, constitution, objective, and platform of the United Labour Party of New Zealand, and to record my vote for the selected Labour candidate of the ?afty at every election; and if elected as the Party's candidate at any election I agree to do my utmost to .carry out the principles embodied in the party's platform, and on all questions affecting the platform and policy of the party or affecting the fato of a Government, vote as a majority of the members elected as representatives of the party may decide at a duly constituted caucus meeting." Ihe agreement, or pledge, is a unique one. It differs from any of the pledge provisions of other Labour parties, in that it combines in one the member's and candidate's pledges, and at the same time makes for solidarity in the caucus. In keeping with the political effort of the new party, a political platform has been provisionally adopted and embodied in the constitution. It will be finally accepted before the week-end. At present it looks as though the programme of the new party on the political field will be v«ry little different from that of the Labour Party at la6t election time, except in, detail. As then constituted, tho Labour Party made a big advance ; under the new echeme and new enthusitlfsm, piospecte look brighter than ever far Labour in politics in New Zealand. Mr. K. Whiting, prominently connect^ ed with the Labour movement in Christchurch, and a. member of the Spreydon Borough Council, is announced as a candidate for the Mayoralty of the borough. The Chratcliurch branches of the Labour Party have endorsed the candidature of Mr. K. Hoppy for the City Council vAcancy that ha« wi»en,