N.Z. LABOUR

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 90, 31 March 1932, Page 7

N.Z. LABOUR

MOMENTOUS CONFERENCE MEETING AT WELLINGTON. REVIEW OF COALITION POLICY. (From Our Special Parliamentary Reporter.) Parliament Buildings, March 31. One of the most momentous confer, ences iu the history of the Labour movement iu New Zealand is being; held at Wellington to-day. Representatives of practically every workers’ organisation in the Domjnion, including Public Service organisations, are meeting at the Trades Hall for the purpose of deciding upon the course of action to combat the policy of the Coalition Government, particularly with reference to the amendments to the Arbitration Act and wage cuts generally. The president of the Alliance of Labour, Mr A. Cook, who is also secretary to the New Zealand Workers' Union, an organisation embracing public works employees, presided at the preliminary meeting this morning and to the “Tribune’s” representative he stated that the conference was probably the most representative of its kind ever held in New Zealand, practically every organisation representing wage and salary earners in the Dominion being represented. The proceedings would not be open to the Press, but a committee would be appointed to make known subsequently the decisions of the conference. During the deliberations of the conference, which is expected to last for two days, the whole policy of the Government regarding wage reductions and unemployment will be reviewed and the conference will decide on the best means to adopt to coinbat what is considered to be unfair attacks on the working class. The various Rublic Service organisations are not affiliated with the Alliance of Labour aud it is significant that they are taking part in the conference, which is presided over by the president of the Alliance of Labour and at which the secretary of the Alliance (Mr Janies Roberts) is a prominent figure.

\ arious suggestion have been put forward as to the best way of fighting the Government’s policy and it is stat ed that there is a possibility that the conference will consider a proposal that a one-day strike should be declared throughout the country as a protest. Another suggestion is that there should be a general strike embracing workers in every branch of industry. Delegates to the conference are reticent as to the attitude they will adopt, but the outcome of the meeting will be awaited with interest and not a little anxiety. The conference met for about twenty minutes this morning and then adjourned until this afternoon. The Labour movement generally is jubilant over the success of the demonstration held in the Town Hall last evening. It is considered that the unanimity displayed is an indication of the generat feeing of the public towards the Coalition Government’s policy. Some comment has been made on the moderate tone of the speeches, and one union secretary stated to-day that to hia mind if the s|>eakers had advocated action of a concrete nature the meeting would have been with them all the way. It is significent that several interjections during the evening favoured direct action and one suggestion made by a number of the audience was that there should be a petition to the Gov-vernor-G eneral.