SPLIT IN LABOUR'S RANKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14427, 21 July 1910, Page 6

SPLIT IN LABOUR'S RANKS.

ATTEMPT TO HEAL THE

BREACH.

A LIVELY HALF HOUR.

The undertone of socialistic feeling that became apparent at intervals during the first two days' proceedings of the Dominion Trades and Labour Councils' Conference, burst through the bounds of restraint afternoon, providing a fervid though unedifying, half hour 6 interlude.

The storm burst after the chairman (Mr. G. R. Whiting) had upheld a constitutional point raised by a Wellington delegate (Mr. W. C. Noot) to the effect that the Conference had no power to alter the rules of the proposed Federation of Labour, a body whigh the 1907 Conference decided to form for the purpose of embracing trades and labour unions throughout New Zealand. The desire of the Auckland delegates to make the objective of the proposed federation (which has nob yet been actually formed) "the socialisation of the means of production, distribution, and exchange," was thus defeated.

Mr. J. Savage (Auckland), in moving to give effect to the next remit from his Council, namely, "That the .Conference devise a scheme to bring Labour together and heal the many breaches, now existing," took occasion to criticise, in acrimonious terms, the action of the Wellington delegates in evading the responsibility of voting for the proposal by raking up a constitutional quibble. There had, he declared, been hobnobbing work outside the Conference. (Voices: Question!)

Mr. W. S. Moxsom (Auckland) also gave vent to bitter expressions of disappointment. He declared that no fewer than 12 of the delegates had been definitely instructed by their Councils to vote for the socialisation remit, and the manner in which their duty had been shirked was reprehensible.. The Hon. J. T. Paul (Otago) severely admonished the speakers in respect of their extreme socialistic utterances, remarking that it was characteristic of some of the delegates that they made rash assertions which they did not substantiate. The present tone of the proceedings ■ ill became delegates who had been sent into conference to deal with questions of vital importance to their fellow-workers. He thought they should stop their snarling in favour of serious business, and not whimper when their particular desires were not favoured by a majority of the delegates. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Noot: I throw the . inferences of the Auckland delegates back in their teeth. Did anyone of us know of the presence of this rule in the constitution until I came across it just now 1 Voices: No.

| Mr. Noot: It is an absolute untruth to say that there was anything in the nature of concoction. I am not a man to be dragged at the chariot-wheels of any delegate at this Conference. (Hear, hear.) Mr. E. J. Carey (Wellington): It is typical of these people who are making the breach to contend every time that they are in the right and others are in the wrong. I venture to say that when this Labour party is matured the first to oppose it will be the socialists, and their opposition will not be on fair lines. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Canterbury) poured oil on the troubled waters in an impassioned appeal to the loyalty of both shades of opinion to the cause of Labour. While there were thousands of fellowworkers in all parts of New Zealand eagerly looking for practical results from the Conference, it behoved them to dissolve anything in the nature of internal strife. (Applause.) • —. - Mr. Savage said he was fighting for the " bottom dogger," agd- the Conference had completely cut the ground from, under their feet so far as their desire to heal the breach was concerned.

The motion was carried nem. con., and the matter was referred for report to a committee consisting of one member of each council represented. Mr. E. J. Howard (Canterbury), who also termed himself a champion of the "bottom dogger," flatly refused to act upon the committee, . remaining, "I honestly could not attempt the impossible." • Mr. Carey: - That's their attitude every time. . ... v.--The Auckland delegates declined to act until Mr. Moxsom yielded to a unanimous vote of the Conference requesting him to assist the committee.