THE LABOUR PARTY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15510, 10 January 1911, Page 5

THE LABOUR PARTY.

MR BOWLING'S APPOINTMENT. OPINIONS IN LABOUR CIRCLES. [FhOM Otm CoKKESrONnFAT.I DUNEDIN, January 9, When asked this morning in regard to the report that at a meeting of labour bodies recently held in Christchurch Mr Peter Bowling had been appointed to organise labour throughout the dominion, Mr Breen (secretary of the Trades and Labour Council) said: •'We do not know anything of Mr Peter Bowling. He has not come to New Zealand at our invitation. His engagement is with the Miners' Federation, which, of course, is hostile to the Federation of Labour inaugurated by the Trades Councils of the dominion. The question of appointing a dominion organiser is a matter for the consideration of delegates at the annual Trades Councils Conference and the Labour Party Congress at Easter. It is hardly likely that the Trades Councils will appoint one as organiser who is actively engaged in organising a rival federation.

STATEMENT BY MR BOWLING. [From Our Correspondent.] AUCKLAND, January 9. Mr Peter Bowling, when interviewed to-day as to his future plans, said: — " Well, this is the position. I have asked to bo relieved from the engagement I entered into with the New Zealand Federation of Labour, in»order to return to New South Wales on January 13. . The Federation has consented to release me, but since then the Christchureh unions have made very strong representations to me to remain in the dominion. What the ultimate result will be I cannot at present say, but my own feeling is in favour of remaining in this dominion for the next two or three months if satisfactory arrangements can be made. Then T could continue my mission for the same purpose and the same objects as I have previously been striving for." "Briefly, what are those objects?" Mr Bowling was asked. " To promote amongst those who labour a knowledge of their true position in society," he replied. " When that object has boon achieved, the natural result will be for labour to assert itself. I think there is a great future for labourers in the work of this dominion. All they want is a. true knowledge of their position and power to enable them to hick the ball which legislation has already placed at their feet." •" The ball has been at their feet for some years without being kicked." , " Perhaps that is rather a fortunate circumstance for the workers, for if they do put men in Parliament they require to select men who fully recognise their class position and their class interests, men who have been tried and tested in industrial lines, and whose sympathies are, therefore, with the workers. I said before that it is perhaps well the workers have not put representatives in Parliament hitherto, becauso until they realise their own true position and requirements they could not be expected to select the proper men to represent them. I may say that I am sorry not to have had an opportunity of meeting the members of the Trades*Council in Auckland. I had that pleasure in Wellington, and although there were points upon' which we differed I think those, could be arranged .so that we could all work together for the welfare of general labour."

LABOUR POLICY

VIEWS OF MR D. M'LAREN. [From Ovr Cobuhspondent.] AUCKLAND, January 9. Mr D. M'Laron, M.P., to-day summarising his view of the political situation, said:—"The growth of labour unions throughout the country has been very satisfactory, and the policy of Labour solidarity is growing in many directions which are not generally recognised. It is often asserted that the Trades and Labour Councils of the country are supnorters of sectionalism, but I find that all of the Councils and the general run of unions throughout Now'Zealand are all desirous for the solidification of the Labour movement. The only differences that exist in our ranks at present are as to the methods by which the desired ends may he achieved, and as the Australian Labour parties have gone Hirough exactly the same phases as we are now going through in New' Zealand, I am confident that what is known as. a 'solidarity ' Labour Party will evolve m New Zealand as it has evolved m the Australian States. I cannot find that there is anv disposition on the part of the unions generally throughout the country to oppose the system of settling disputes by arbitration which we have in practice. I believe that' most of the unionists will agree to the abohtion of the arbitration system when they can find something better to put m its pla<-e, hut this has not yet been presented to them. From conversations which I had with Mr Beeby and Mr Holman. of New South Wales, it is clear to me that our system of settling industrial disputes is very far m advance of what they have hitherto had in New South Wales. There the legal element has been so much m evidence that the settlement of trade has depended upon the exercise, of legal wit, and has not often been a practical adjustment of differences by men having knowledge of the matters in dispute For instance, the secretary of the Sydney Wharf Labourers' Union infor.rn-i me that their last case had. cost them about £I6OO, whereas a similar case ui this countrv -would not cost the workers' union "more than £SO at the • inside The New South Wales Act allowed the appearance in industrial cases of barristers, but in New Zealand the settlement is made by men. having a knowledge of the technicalities of the industry."

" I find that the movement for the creation of a Labour Party in politics is growing in various parts of the country," continued Mr M'Laren- "There has been some talk in Christchurch about a combination between the Labour Party and the Miners' Federation , otherwise known as the New Zealand Federation of Labour, but I think that such a combination will not take effect until the Miners' Federation recognises its true proportion in the Labour movement of the country. At present it has about 5000 members, and there are about 50,000 registered unionists. It is therefore quite futile for them to say to the majority, ' You will adopt just what we lay down as the proper objective and line of action.' I am certain that the Trades and Labour Councils and the unionists genesally would agree to an open conference of representatives from all industrial federations, uuionß and councils of Labour on th© understanding that the policy which the conference should decide upon should be upheld loyally by all. By this means I feel certain that a complete solidification of our movement could- bo effected, but I don't think such is likely to result either from the Trades Council dictating to the Miners' Federation or from the Miners' Federation laying down an .ultimatum to the other bodies. I believe that in New Zealand the workers generally will soon learn that the-time to take political action is all the time, and that the workers, instead of striving for some visionary ideal, may best achieve their ends by taking the.best that is offering. When the workers realise this, we shall have in New Zealand the growth of a political Labour Party such as they have in Australia, with the added advautago that we have many experiences in Now Zealand, particularly m respect of in-

dustrial laws which they have yet to meet with in some of the States."

In regard to a message from Auckland, stating that Mr M. J. Savage, president of the Auckland Trades Council, objected to the selection of Mr Peter Bowling as organiser of the Labour Party, Mr M. Laracy says that if the Political Labour Paity is meant the statement is not correct, as the meeting held in Christchureh, when a .recommendation was iriado asking the New Zealand Federation of Labour to retain Mr Bowling's services, was a public meeting and was not called by any particular body or bodies. Mr Bowling, Mr Laracy thinks, is doing exactly the kind of work that is needed in 2\ew Zealand by educating the workers industrially, and although industrial organisation may not actually outer the political arena he has no doubt that it will have a political effect. He states that in the report of the riroccedings at Auckland both Mr Savage and Mr T. Long, late president of the Auckland Trades" Council, say that they would like to see Mr Bowling appointed organiser. Mr Laracy expresses his gratification at that fact. As to Mr R. Sample's statement that the organisation will be prepared for political warfare in 1911, Mr Laracy argues that Mr Bowling's addresses will have a marked effect in inducing the workers to take their part in industrial and political affairs. He wishes to make it clear, however, that the Canterbury Trades Council has not taken any action in regard to Mr Bowling's appointment, although man\» members of the Council are in sympathy with the proposal. Ho also wishes to make it clear that membership of the industrial organisation does not debar anyone from individual political action. The organisation has not been promoted for political purposes—for party political purposes, that is—and does not interfere with the private* political views of its members.