LABOUR AND POLITICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14110, 12 July 1909, Page 5

LABOUR AND POLITICS.

A CANTERBURY DISPUTE.

PROPOSED LABOUR PARTY.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

, Christchurch, Sunday. A serious division in the ranks of organised labour in Canterbury is threatened, consequent upon the determination of several unions (amongst them the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners, Coachmakers' Union, Bricklayers' Union, and Hotel, Club, , and Restaurant Employees' Union) to secede from Canterbury Trades and Labour Council. The reason for this action on the part of the unions mentioned is that the Council, instead of dealing at its meetings with purely unionist matters, practically devotes its whole time to a discussion of. general politics. It is contended that the Council was never intended to become a political machine, and its rules are cited in support of this contention. It is stated that political feeling has become so strong that, it has dominated nearly everything that the Council has done lately. Others state that the Council is merely a pol i I - social organisation.

Prominent members of the Council, in criticising these statements, point out that the trades and -labour councils of New Zealand took an active part in the political campaign ot 1890, when the Liberals. were returned to power. They further say that the statement that the introduction of politics 's a new feature is disproved by history and the records ;of the councils. Members .of the Council state that the opposition of a section of the unions to the Council is due to the fact that some of the delegates are uncompromising supporters of the Government, whilst other delegates wish to see the Council progress. Whenever the Government is criticised by progressive delegates the Government supporters, it is o'.leged, by subterfuge and by other means, attempt to discredit efforts made to effect- progress. It is pointed out further that the Bootmakers' Union, the oldest union in Canterbury, recognises the necessity for the Council discussing political questions.' •

It is apparent from a circular that lias been forwarded 'to all the unions in the Dominion that the Canterbury Trades Council is attempting to form a New Zealand Labour party. To further that end-it proposes to establish a Labour newspaper. Regarding the proposed newspaper the circular says that the object is to establish (1) the nationalisation of monopolies; (2) the initiative, referendum, and the power of recall of all public officials; (3) free education from primary schools to the university.