CONFERENCE DELEGATE. ENTERTAINED

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

CONFERENCE DELEGATE. ENTERTAINED

VARIOUS TOASTS "ANTI-MILITARrST! REBELS'" HONOURED. ■>«■» , The delegates attending the La"bow * l[ere?» C6 > ?oWM?S held at the office* of the Maonland Worker, assembled ab Young's Private Hotel last .evening, when the conveners of the conference entertained the visitors. Mr. John Dowgray presided, and there were about ninety delegates present. Mr. Dowgray? extended a hearty welcome to those pre« sent, and eaid that the conference wouldj prove to be one of historic importance, inasmuch as it would probably resulfb in the establishment of ohe grand Fed» eration of Labour, that would change the face of social life in New Zealand, INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT. The first toaßt was that of "The In< ternational Labour Movement," propoa* «d"by, Mr. ft. S. Ross. In proposing, the toast, Mr. Ro«s aaid that the most truly .remarkable feature of the agfcwas the mighty worldwide Labour-Socialisi; movement. Many sneers were levelled! at? syndicalism, but he wanted to ex.. press his opinion that the Byndieal»ove« ment was the most practical of all, for: the reason that it proposed that those who were engaged in an industry were the people who should control it. Mr. W. T. Young responded to th« toast, and eaid that the hour "was at hand at last* when one solid Labour or* ganisation Bhould be established in 1 News Zealand to fight the battles of the working class. He trusted also that before long the worker* of Australia would be linked up with those of New Zeala&d. UNITED WORKERS. Mr. R. Semple proposed the toast of "The United Workers of Now Zea. land." Speaking of the conference now being held, Mr. Semple «aid that Homo of the comments of the capitalist now*' papers concerning it were an indication of the fear with which the exphviters viewed" the possibility of Labour getting together in this Country. He was nob prepared to sacrifice any principle, bub he was prepared to do anything and everything else to iecuro the eoiidifica* tidn of Labour. Mr. D. G. Sullivan eaid, in replying to the toaßt, that the conference &ow being held was' in every respect thai most remarkable held in New Zealand., It represented no mere section of the\ workers., but, the united working class*! of the country. The curse of the»< workers all through the ages had been."' the miserable dissensions that, had)i denied and robbed them o£ theiir'! strehgth. "THE FEDERATIONS "The Federation of Labour" was pro^ posed by Mr, H. Hunter, who'said that he had always been an industrial unionist. He had the greatest respect for the officers of the Federation of Labour; and the greatest ]oy of his life' was to be present at the conference thaM would i he believed, link up all thei labour, factors into one great or«« ganisation. Mr.. P. C. Webb,, president of thaFederation of' Labour, responded, H«; said that an enormous amount of educa^ tional work-had been done by his or*' ganisation. Many of their fellow workers,) who in' the past had professed'faith in 1 arbitration, were now coming to Beerf that if they had a great industrial or>^ ganisation' there would be no'meed for 1 them Ho place their destinies in the' hands of an Arbitration Court Judge. OTHER .TOASTS. < [ Mr, H. Voyce proposed the toast of the "Labour Press," coupled with tfce name of Mr. P. H> Hickoy. Mr. Voyce emphasised the need of the "workers? dwning a press of their own to give ex«n pressions to their aims and ideals. Mr. Hiekey ■ responded. Mr. M. Laracy proposed the toast o? "The United Labour Council." In. doing so he said that for many year* he had fought for a Labour patty, and now he believed it Was possible to realise it. Mr. Noot responded. Mr. P. Fraser gave the,toast of "The Socialist Party," 1 coupled with the name - of Mr. G. G. Farland. Mr. Douglas proposed "The Young Anti-militarist Rebels." Militarism in, all its .forms, he said, was detrimental to the workers. Mr. Roberts, in reply, said that th» young fellows had shown the real militant spirit. They had shown the workers how to fight. They had refused ;to agree to shoot their fellow-workers. Wherever conscription was successful true liberty was dead. He hoped all workers would urge their Bons not to join the .Conßcripb army. Amongst other toasts was that ©I "The Heroes of Waihi." The proceedings were diversified with songs and mu&ic. ,v, v Tho foregoing report, which is slightly summarised, wns officially supplied. *