EXTREME LABOUR.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 October 1924, Page 7

EXTREME LABOUR.

A '‘DEAD-SET” ON THE GOVERNMENT. Convened by tli e British Bureau cf the lied International of Labour Unions a two days’ national Conference of Trade Unionists, described as a National Minority Conference, debated a lengthy emergency resolution submitted by Mr. S. Elsburv (Tailors <™ Garmeilt Workers’ Union) that: ‘the establishment of a Lobour Government aroused the hopes of the organised working class movement that a definite break would be made with the policy of previous Capitalist Governments in their relation to the struggles of the' workers. The Lobour Government has been established, long enough for all the workers to see qnice, clearly what is to lie expected of this Government in its attitude towards the trade unions- . . Instead of the Government giving the workers every encouragement and assistance it has exerted the greatest possible pressure on the Trade Union leaders m order to get them to use their influence either to prevent strikes or effect compromises as speedily as possible, so that the Governments hould not be embarrassed. "When strikes have taken olace the Labour Government has just "done- the same as either a Liberal o r Tory Government would have done—used' naval men to unlead mails during the dock strike; got the proclamation declaring a state of emergency signed during the tramwaymen’s strike; threatened to intioduce naval men into the power stations during the railway shopmen’s order to get a compromise during all other disputes. This conference notes that the Laboui Government have as yet failed to set up courts of enquiry into the excessive profiteering that is going on in wheat, tea-, and other essential commodities which are monopoly of a few trusts, who are allowed to continue their policy of fleecing the workers without any interference on the part of the Labour Government. ‘‘lt is essential that we have a Labour ’Government which will act on behalf of the wankers, and by using the whole recourees of the State make it possible for the workers to go forward in real fight for their demands. The Government should he under the control and responsibile to the organised working class movement, and tlie Trade Unions must see that this is done, for (inly then it will be possible to force the Government to act in the interests of the working class as a whole.

, ‘lbis . conference calls upon the trades Union Congress to immediately take steps to bring about such demand that the Labour Government shall immediately repeal ali legislation of a character inimical to the interests of the working class. In particular the conference demands that tlie Labour Government shall immediately repeal the Emergency Powers Act. abolish all the Sedition Laws, and refuse to use any of the armed forces of the State in any industrial dispute or allow any police protection of blacklegs. ‘lf the Government ’ refuse to - carry out such measures, then the workers ■will not fail to recognise is such refusal a complete betrayal of the bestinterests of the working class, and this conference, pledges itself to do all in ■ts power by active propaganda, and agitation in the working-class organisations it represents to force the- Government to act along the lines laid down in this resolution.”

f hey had the right, Mr. Els bin-, and, to expect the Government, if noi prepared to help them, to at least stond by and see that a clear field was kept and not support “blacklegs,” as they were doing at tlie present time. The flunkey ism of- the present Government was something appalling. The only justification fo r the .Government keeping in office was to attempt to emancipate the warkers of the connU'Y (hear, hear,)—and if they found they were unable to do it the best thing for them was to get out, get to the people, to ask for power so that they should not have to break their promises and make eveuses afterwards, as they have done. The workers wanted tlie rank and file to rule the Cabinet. If tlie Government refused to carry out the measures enumerated the workers would not fail to recognise in such a refusal a complete behrayal of the best interests of the working clases. Mr. Glanville (Durham Miners) said he believed there were some honest men in the Government, but they had been put in particular environment which overwhelmed them What was wrong? It was the Parliamentary system that was the fault

'‘Mr. Gallachcr said they had the spectacle of a Labour Government playing the game of the Capitalist. The resolution was carried.