THIS MONTH'S CONFERENCES.

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 18, 20 July 1918, Page 11

THIS MONTH'S CONFERENCES.

(By "Zealandia.")

The various Labour Conferences held this month accomplished nothing very startling, but nevertheless must have a strong influence over the future of the Labour movement in New Zealand. To the ordinary unionist the result of these conferences must be a disappointment for so little of the actual business transacted is made public. There seems, in the opinion of many, but little reason .for the great secrecy which is maintained. The Labour Party has decided , upon an extensive organising scheme. That being so it is surprising that the officials do not realise more fully the value of publicity. The reports supplied to the newspapers were meagre indeed, and consequently the public has been given little opportunity of judging tho temper and general feeling ol the delegates present. In this connection tho remarks of the Hon. J. T. Paul, who was present throughout the conferences, are of interest. In his weekly notes in the Otago Daily Times he stated, in reference to the Federation Conference, that the proceedings were markedly good-tempered and business-like. He continues: "From the inside these annual gatherings of organised Labour are intensely interesting studies. Some critics affect to see in organised Labour only a savage, uncompromising, and unreasoning hatred of capitalists. In-, stead of which it genuinely desires to regenerate the earth, and make life more pleasant for those on the lowest strata of society. At times it suffers because of its very sincerity, but at its worst it is a much better and more valuable asset- to the community than its critics sometimes portray it. One of the most interesting phases of a study of Labour from the inside is the changes fn thought. Once upon a time Labour criticism was all destructive. At the U.F.L. and the open congress the big majority stood for a constructive policy in important sphere!) of our national life."