LABOUR DELEGATES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 20, 24 January 1913, Page 3

LABOUR DELEGATES

FEDERATION CONFERENCE ! MILITARY TRAINING FROM SOCIALIST STANDPOINT. "ONE 810 UNION." The conference convened by the Federation of Labour continued its deliberations after The Post went to press yesterday. following is a Bummary of the official Report : — Mr. C. U. Mackie, of the National Peace Council, addressed conference on the Defence Act and militarism. Some months ago, he said, a large deputation representing 100,000 workers had waited on Sir Joseph Ward, and he felt that even more than that number were represented that day. He read a list of Trades Uniohs and Socialist, and other parties that were behind the anti-militar-ist movement. The present Defence Act cut the ground from under the feet of the democracy. t A noted military officer had said militarism and democracy could not exist, together, and that opinion was general among military men throughout the world. Previous to • the Imperial Defence Conference of. 1909, Sir Joseph Ward was , against militarism, but Sir J. Ward came back from that conference with; the, germ ( of the .present Defence Act in' his pocket, the underlying idea being to create a pan-Britannic militarism. . • The "defence", contemplated tm» der the present system" was in reality aggression. The Act was not made in New Zealand. It was formulated in England by the National Service League. Only yesterday, in Christchurch, a work' er's son had had his liberty and his civil rights taken away because he had dared to say he would not train to kill his fellow men. Recently Mr. Allen had left t6, attend another Imperial Conference, and had gone for the express purpose »of making an arrangement, to be ratified by Parliament on his return, without the people t being consulted in any way, and which would probably commit them to some naval scheme in connection with Australia and Canada.' They were now paying £3 5s a day for General Godley's walking up and down, and they were going to be v asked to further pay for a representative on art ' Imperial Defence Committee in London. Compulsory military training led to thought along military lines, and when national crises % came the danger came from the focusing of . thought on the military idea. The Imperialistic spkit was that which was creating discord be* tween Germany and England and other countries. The Premier had said that in going Home to make those arrangements Mr. Allen was going with the mind of the people of the country and the Cabinet behind him. This was pure assumption. What was Wanted was a body of opinion which would insist on the removal of an Act the like of which was in no part of the British Empire, excepting Australia and New Zealand. He asked for conference to give a distinct expression of opinion that unless the Act was repealed trouble would be sure to follow. A hearty vote of thanks, was accorded Mr. Mackie. LABOUR CONSOLIDATION. The conference then proceeded to further discussion on the motion affirm' ing 'the necessity for ono organisation in the industrial field. Mr. Mills said he was there to help to consolidate the Labour forces of New Zealand into one political and industrial body. He could not understand how any body of men could vote against a single industrial organisation. If it was to be understood that the "one big union" idea wag to give one executive supreme control,, he would be against it. If it meant a simple and effective federation of all the unions he would, favour it. Mr. Hickey said the resolution meant the institution of • one • organisation on the industrial field. The details were to be decided later. Mr. Semple supported the motion. In«ustrial_ organisation was to be the basis of Bolitical action. Asa native of Australia he knew the weaknesses of political action, where industrial sectionalism existed. \ Organised solidly, they would probably be able to one day obviate the necessity for a national strike. Mr. Whiting opposed the motion. He maintained that they must, take political action, and if he supported one industrial organisation of the workers and one political organisation he would be doing something that his union had been fighting against for years. Mr. PI. E. Holland said they were asked to unite in one industrial, plus political, organisation. In no country in the world had the workers formed such an organisation. In no country in 'the world had such a thing been attempted. It was doomed to failure. In Australia, where politics had intermingled with and predominated over the industrial organisationq, they had the extraordinary spectacle of Labour Governments gaoling strikers. ,They had Labour/ Governments sgaoling boys for refusing to serve in the military service. They: had more re-, ( pressive Labour legislation in Australia under ' Labour than in New Zealand under Liberalism. All this because the workers were for a time politically obsesßed. What was wanted beyond every, ■thing else in • New Zealand was one strong militant industrial organisation of the workers--~itr Bhort, one big union. Mr. Jones said they must organise to, 1 the point' of production. • The motion was carried on the voices by an overwhelming majority, and the tesult was received with ringing cheers. STANDING TOGETHER. , Mr. - Hickey- moved : ' "That until such t time as one industrial organisation is brought into existence, this conference', maintaining that . the solidarity of labour is a vital principle, affirms that in industrial upheavals by strikes (duly organised by the controlling organisation) or lock-outs', the delegates at this conference" should urge their unions to be -behind the workers affected with financial, moral, and, if necessary, other assistance." Mr. W. M'Lennan seconded the motion. Mr. Mills moved as an amendment: "That until such time as there is a complete organisation of all the workers along the lines of the industries and occupation in which they are employed, seeking for the solidarity of Labour, this conference urges that in all cases of strikes and lock-outs the Dominion or- t ganisation of the industry or occupation" involved shall be the controlling organisation, and where possible a ballot of all members of' the controlling organisation should be taken preceding an order to strike, and the co-operation of other bodies shall be sought lor through their Dominion organisation, and such support shall be asked for after ample opportunity for deliberate action, including the taking of a ballot after the same manner as is suggested for the controlling body itself." He said the original motion left the "matter of the culling of, the strike quite out of the question, irrespective of the merits of the strike. He desired that organisations t6 be called upon to support the strike should be given a voice in the calling of it. Mr. Harris seconded the amendment. Mr. Young moved that the debate be adjourned pending the discussion of Remit No. 7. He wanted an affirmation of the principle of political action. Mr, Semnle seconded the motion of Mr. Young.

The motion for. adjournment was carried. Mr. Ross moved—"That, recognising that t political action, is necessary. a.nd inevitable to the working class movement, we agree to the formation of & ]jolitical party for the enacting of legislation to better the condition of the working class, and ultimately to' achieve o»r emancipation." He' was, fully' conscious that such a party could ,only \>o a Socialist Party. In their industrial evolution they had reached the verge of the social,revolution. If; the'.U.L.P. really stood for Socialism it should- be Pecognißed that a clear revolutionary pro^ nouncemetit would d<Ff&r more to bring along the working class than any: pno* gramme of equi vocation. Mr. H, Hunter seconded the motion. Mr. Mills said tho U.L.P. had seventy, affiliations, and was entitled to coifßidefa« tion. If the U.L.P. had been consulted, fully a hundred more unions might easily have been represented there. k- ' Mr. Sullivan supported the motion, He said the overwhelming majority of the workers were looking for this conference to achieve industrial and political solidarity. They already had' the* Socialist Party and the United Labour Party, and he -would only auppott the creation of another party if'it Wfw to effect the merging of the two >• other* parties. He believed the best Way to proceed would be to consult both the Dominion Executive of the LaJbour*P»rty and the National Executive. o£ the' Socialist Party. ' Several other members of. the eonierv ence also spoke. Mr. Young opposed 1 the amendment. If they got the principle of political uniW. affirmed, they Bhould appoint a delegation to confer with the U.L.P. lta 1 Easter Conference. Later he would again, move along the lines of his amendonenl*' rejected that morning. At this etage the conference adjourned, till to-day,