LABOUR UNITY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15900, 11 April 1912, Page 4

LABOUR UNITY.

CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON. [Per Pkkw Association.] WELLINGTON. April 10.

The Labour Unity Conference has concluded its deliberations. The unity proposals and the constitution of the ‘ proposed United Labour party were i amended and drawn up for presentation to separate conferences of tho Labour party and tho Trades Councils. When these two organisations have dealt with the scheme in its amended form tho constitution will be submitted to the Unity Conference for final endorsement. In connection with the pledge in tho past signed by parliamentary candidates, it is understood that in future there will be no such pledge, merely the affirmation signed by all members of the party when they first join the organisation. This affirmation of the principles embodied in the constitution will guide parliamentary representatives in their actions just as it would guide a private member of the party. THE MILLS PROPOSALS. CONSIDERED BY TIMBER WORKERS. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, April 10. Tlie unitv proposals came before the Timber Workers’ Conference to-day, when Professor \V. T. Mills, Mr E. iregoar and Mr D. M’Laren addressed the delegates. j The first speaker, Professor Mills, gave an interesting exposition of the scheme to federate tho distinct trade organisations in a general national body. The units would have representation in the central organisation. No one who could by any stretch of imagination be termed, an employer would be admitted. Each trade organisation would be preserved intact. Tho matter had been discussed by about fifty delegates to the Unity. Conference, representing 35,000 or 40,000 working men, and the delegates worked hard for twenty-three hours. He would like to place on record that lie had never in his life met such a group of people representing such varying interests so patiently, continuously and sincerely endeavouring to discover the wisest tiling to do, and to devise means by which it could be effectively undertaken. The chairman (Mr E. Phelan) said that the Conference proposed to appoint an organiser, and lie desired to know whether such work would be performed by the main body. Professor Mills replied that each of the different groups could place its organiser in the field with instructions, he suggested, to co-operato with other organisers. Bodies which could not .appoint an organiser would probably be aided bv a bigger organisation. Mr Ai’Lareii favourably commented on the spirit 3lieWn by members of tho Unity Conference. With the backing of all the workers of the country they would quickly have a united Labour Party. The mists were being cleared away, and lie believed that excellent , progress would noW be made. Mr E. Tregear said that in all his experience he had. encountered no scheme so perfect, so flexible and solid as the unity proposals of Professor Mills. He had nothing but praise for the scheme.

Tho Federation of Labour point of view was put before the delegates by Mr P. C. Webb, who said the Arbitration Act was of no value to tho workers. An organisation of the wage-earners was needed in New Zealand under one great federation. . So far as tho unity proposals were concerned a union between farmers, doctors, bankers and professional men and miners and timber workers was going to result in a milk and water policy. No freedom would come bytoadying to the middle class. Ho did not think there was going to be much unity. The middle class, as a class, had never taken tho side of the workers. His friends were organising for the purpose of abolishing tho system of private property and to build up such an organisation as would give to tho wealth-producers the value of their labour. Organising for any other purpose than Socialism was of no use, and

it was a waste of time worrying ns to whether it was revolutionary or not. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Air Webb for bis address. He was also told that the matter would be considered. THE DRIVERS’ FEDERATION. The' New Zealand Federation of Drivers’ Unions, which has just concluded its deliberations, gave full consideration to a proposal from, the Gisborne Lhiion as to the advisableness or otherwise of withdrawing from the Trades Council Federation and (as, a Federation) joining the Federation of Labour. The.Gisborne Union recommended that this should bo done by tho Drivers’ Federation. After a lengthy deliberation an amendment was put and carried—“ That the Drivers’ Federation tako a referendum of tho whole of the unions affiliated with it on tho question as to whether tlie Federation shall join tlie Mills’ Unity Scheme or tho New Zealand Federation of Labour. As soon as the copies of tlie (constitution of both the Unity Federation and Federation of Labour are available then a ballot shall bo taken, on tho distinct understanding that unless the Drivers’ Federation decides to join

either of the Federations as a Fedora*' tion no individual union joins either, Gf the Federations referred to as a union.” Messrs Stove and H. Hunter were appointed representatives of tha Drivers’ Federation at tho New Zealand Labour Party’s Conference.