TRADES CONFERENCE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 9 April 1912, Page 8

TRADES CONFERENCE.

AN IMPORTANT GATHERING

ST TELEitBAPU-- PfaESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, April 6. The annual conference of trades council delegates opened in the Parliamentary buildings to-day. The Hon. J. T. Paul, M.L.C. (Dunedin) was unanimously elected president. In returning thanks he asked, "AVhy are we divided? AYe want to •make this an industrial paradise. AA re want to see every man and woman in the community living in decent comfort." While they wished the Parliament to reflect the aims of the people of the country, he said, they were divided, and the reactionary element had a representation which far outweighed "their importance.- He hoped they would be able to set up a common platform which would bring 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 that New Zealand ever had. On such -an important occasion they should not be divided. He sincerely * hoped that in the next Parliament they would have the representation and the influence that their numbers entitled them to. It was resolved to invite the Minister of Labor to attend the sittings of the conference. There was some discussion as to whether the trades council conference should go on with its business while the unity conference was sitting. Delegates pointed out that many of- the visitors had appointments to both conferences, and eventually it was agreed -that, after transacting formal business, -the trades council should adjourn in ■■order that the delegates might attend the unity conference. The delegates -to (1) the unity conference, (2) the trades council conference, and (3) the political labor party's conference then met as one body. About 40 were present. The conference decided that the Press should be admitted "except when the conference was in committee." The conference then resolved to go into committee to discuss the constitution. A welcome was extended by the conference to Mrs T. E. Taylor, who represAnts the Canterbury Housewives' Union.