THE TRADES UNION CONGRESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8670, 12 September 1891, Page 5

THE TRADES UNION CONGRESS.

■ ACRIMONIOUS SCENES. THE EIGHT HOURS QUESTION. Press Association.—Electric Telegraph.— London, September 10. Acrimonious scenes and great confusion have taken place at the Trades Union Congress over the question of restricting the operation of the legal eight hours.

The victory is regarded as a triumph for the new unionists, who under the new system adopted by Congress of allowing voting by show of hands ap-

pear to control Congress. The announcement that a If. sal eight hours shall not come into operation until sanctioned by two-thirds of the mem-

bers of trades unions, was received with much cheering. The decision of the meeting destroys the international agreement, and will be affirmed at Tuesday's meeting. It has been ascertained that the Congress represents 1,300,000 workers. It has been decided to discuss the Miners Eight Hours Bill at a future sitting. Congress has approved of the pay ment of members of Parliament. The Trades Union Congress to-day passed a resolution expressive of delight at the success of the Labout party in New South Wales, where thirty-one paid labour members now have seats in the Legislative Assembly. It also was decided that the unions must send paid delegates to the House of Commons pledged to secure payment of members by the State, which it is proposed to make a test question at the general election.

The Standard declares that the eight hour resolution of the Trades Union Congress is merely the ground bait of Socialism.