“WE SHALL WIN”

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 5 September 1927, Page 9

“WE SHALL WIN”

LABOUR LEADER’S ADDRESS.

FUTURE OF MOVEMENT. TRADES UNIONIST NOT DOWN. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYBIGHT. Received 11:50 a.m. to-day. LONDON, Sept. 4. Air Hicks, in liis presidential address at the Trades Union Congress at Edinburgh, said: “The Congress, in reply to those who imagine that they have got the trades unionist down, declares: Our movement is more unite!, stronger and more experienced. The Trades Dispute Act will unit© the ranks and stimulate us to more vigorous activity. The congress will consider the steps necessary to adopt the trades unionist to the conditions which the Act creates. Even this Government will realise the impossibiity of legislatively stopping the growth of the workers’ (nass consciousness. If any unions are attacked, ail element will be provided for .sweeping the measure and its authors out of .political existence. “There are at present a quarter or a million workless miners, tor whom relief is not obtainable, except by nationalising the mining industry. In order to relieve poverty and unemployment, we must make the working class movement able to exercise Industrial pressure and economic power and to prepare for the return of the Labour Government with an organised programme at the next election. It must democratise the army, navy, judiciary, poice and all organs of the State. AVe must train the workers in management and administration and in order to control industry we must not .neglect the opportunities for negotiation between tiie employed a.nd employers. An extensive recruiting campaign for increasing trades union membership will iollow ■ tile, congress. “Regarding Russia, our Russian comrades have suffered and have learned much. AVe must view the question in the most generous way. Whatever happens to the Russian workers, their conquests, must be defended and maintained. W armongers are .still with us. Another world war would doom civilisation. Organised Labour must strip the warmongers' of power and authority. Wontaii can help in all our strugges'. AA'e shall doubtless know more defeats. but the future is ours; we shall win.” —“Sydney Sun” cable.