THE OPEN CONFERENCE ON LABOUR CONSCRIPTION.

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

THE OPEN CONFERENCE ON LABOUR CONSCRIPTION.

Labour circles in Wellington are freely of opinion that open conferences are'not a. success, and that opinion remains unaltered after the experience of the open conference in Wellington in connection with tho conscription of labour, or national service. .Certainly there emanated from the conference an important manifesto outlining a constructive programme for Labour, but whatever merits this may have—and it probably has quite a number —it is in no way binding on any party, and, therefore, it is by no means certain that it will act as a guide to the future policy. One clause of the manifesto will probably be endorsed by everybody. It reads: "Every section of the community must see the necessity for the scientific organisation and control of the full resources of the State in order to minimise the chances of chaos and starvation on a large scale." The manifesto did not confine itself to criticism, but submitted useful proposals for the setting up of joint councils, national, district, and in workshops, composed of employers and workers, the object of. which would be to promote the continuous and progressive improvement of industry ; to realise the organic unity of industry as a national service, and to promote the well-being and status of all connected with it. Such councils would concern themselves with the regulation of wages, supervision of working conditions, prevention of unemployment, employment of partially disabled soldiers, technical training and research, publicity, etc. The. manifesto is, in many ways identical with the famous Whitley report. Tho conference definitely decided to oppose any form of conscription of labour which is likely to benefit individual employees, but it is unlikely that Labour will be hostile to a scheme of organisation, providing it is given ample' opportunity to assist in its framing. It will demand equal representation with the employers. The method of fighting an unpopular form of industrial conscription is left to the individual unions, proving once again that open conferences are of. little use.