TRADES COUNCIL CONFERENCE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 96, 6 April 1912, Page 6

TRADES COUNCIL CONFERENCE.

AIMS AND ASPIRATIONS. [PER press association.] Wellington, April 6. The annual conference of Trades Council delegates opened to-day. In welcoming the delegates. Mr. M. J. Reardon said that the deliber alio ns were of an important charac ♦er. one of the principal items being the unity scheme. The Hon. J. T. Paul, was elected chairman, and Mr. W. T. Noo' secretary.

It was decided to invite the Minis ter for Labour to attend the ence, also that after formal business the conference ad journ in order that delegates could attend the united conference of 'eie gates to the Unity. Trades Council, and the Political Labour party. The conference then met as one body. The Hon. J. T. Paul, who wa; unanimously elected chairman by the joint conference, in a short address asked “ Why are we divided 1 Mby should we not be united? Wj want to make this an industrial para iise. We want to see every man and woman in the community living in decent comfort.” While they wished Parliament to -reflect the aims of the peonle of the country, they '-were divided, and reactionary influences had representation, which far outweighed their importance. He hoped they would be able to set un a common platform, which would brine into actual being their aims and aspirations. There had never been a more important conference in New Zealand. They might in the next few months have the best Government or the worst Government Xew Zealand ever had. On such an im portant occasion they should not be divided. He sincerely hoped that in the next Parliament they would have the representation and influence their numbers entitled them to. The conference then went into committee to discuss the constitution.