"TOO MUCH POLITICS."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14109, 10 July 1909, Page 5

"TOO MUCH POLITICS."

TRADES COUNCIL SPLIT.

DISSATISFIED WORKERS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.— own CORRESPONDENT.]

, Christchurch, Friday. There are strong indications of revolt on the part of some of the unions against the amount of attention that the socialistic propaganda receives from the Trades and Labour Council. "Too much politics, and too little useful work," is the complaint laid against the Council by the Coachw'orkers' Union, which has been discussing the advisableness of seceding from the Council. At the meeting called to consider the matter, members of the. union expressed their dissatisfaction with the way in ' which the business of the Council is being conducted. Until the various unions have equal representation on the Council, nothing better could be expected. The labour unions having n large membership were entitled to a certain number of delegates, most of whom belonged to the Political Labour League, and the consequence was that the trades unions had to take a back seat. It was decided to ask all the trades unions to appoint delegates to a conference to discuss the best means of improving the position.

Members of unions who were seen, by a reporter stated that the prominence given to the discussion of political matters, and the preponderance of the socialistic element, had led to several unions affiliated to the Council expressing dissatisfaction, and more than one had threatened secession.

Mr. A. D. Hart, president of the Trades and Labour Council, interviewed in regard to the suggested secession, said the constitution provided that no political matters should be discussed, but : the Council was eager for political reform, and he contended that it could do nothing for the benefit of the workers without introducing politics. A committee had been set up with a view to altering the constitution, and he believed that in the near future the Council would form itself into more of a political organisation than an . astrial association. Studying the industrial aspect was not going to benefit, the workers nearly as much as studying the political aspect, for in political action they could get reforms carried through presenting a, determined front to the Government and the people. "■. The majority of the Council were anxious for a straight-out Labour party in the future. It must be a fighting force to secure the rights which the workers were denied now. .