"THE MELTING POT^'

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 11, 13 July 1914, Page 4

"THE MELTING POT^'

LABOUR FEDERATION'S NEW CONSTITUTION. A well-attended meeting in the Old' Opera House last evening, held under the auspices of the. United Federation of Labour, was addressed by several delegates to the Labour Conference, now in session in this city. Mr P. H. Hickey, secretary of the Federation, presided. Tho chairman stated the press had taken the trouble to point out tha,t the conference was attended, by about 90 delegates, as against 400 at the congress last year, but he would point out that almost the same number of workers wore represented as at the previous conference. If the work done at the last 'July Congress had not met with the success that those who had fought loyally for the cause, had hoped it would do, it was because of those who stood outside and kept Labour divided. If these forces still determined to keep Labour divided, it was no use calling any further conference. Although that conference had not done all he personally had hoped it would do, he realised thai unless the majority rallied in the counsels of labour there could be no finality as far as the movement was concerned. Mr. Wesley Richards, of Auckland, a member of the National Executive of the recently-formed organisation, said the workers in frew Zealand had been taught a lesson, during the last six months which they would carry to their graves. They were only suffering now the result of their own folly, and if they had como together in recerft years they would never have had to suffer the pangs and penalties they were suffering to-day. There had been many schisms, but Labour was now closing 'its 'ranks, and was going to unite on one common meeting ground. Mr. James Thorn made a warm attack on Sir Joseph Ward, who, he said, through his policy, has made the way for the present reactionary Massey Government. Sir Joseph Wai-d accused Mr. Massey of reckless bon owing, but during his short term as Prime Minister he himself had borrowed many millions. The Social Democrats could not associate themselves with Sir Joseph Ward's party, and would have to fight their political 'campaign with their own resources. Mr. Arthur Rosser said that the constitution of the Federation had been put tnto the melting pot, and if there was any man who could not join it there j was only one body he could join—the employers. The Labour Party was passing through a very serious period of i its existence. They had no need to be ashamed of the part they took in the strike, for it had caused a- feeling of earnestness and resoluteness, and when they had that feeling there were signs of a better state of existence. Messrs. R. Semple and W. Parry also addressed the meeting.