REBUFF FOR EXTREMISTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19119, 10 September 1925, Page 9

REBUFF FOR EXTREMISTS.

HOME LABOUR CONGRESS.

POWER TO CALL STRIKES.

DEFEAT OF THE PROPOSAL. By Telegraph —Pre.«a Association—Copyright. (Received 7.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z.—Reuter. LONDON, Sept. 9. Warm interchanges marked a discussion at yesterday's sitting of the Trades Union Congress at Scarborough. The motion which gave rise to the discussion was one declaring that the union was the vehicle of the workers, and proposing to confer on the general council autocratic powers to call for a stoppage of work, or order a general levy on non-affected unions, in order to support a union which was on strike in defence of a vital trades union principle.

Mr. J. H. Thomas objected that the delegates had not had an opportunity of considering the proposals. Seven., delegates shouted : " The miners have."

Mr. A. J. Cook, general secretary of the Miners' Federation, rose excitedly, pointed at Mr. Thomas, and advised the latter to look after himself.

Mr. Thomas said the general council carried the movement with them in the miners' dispute under the powers thoy already had. That spirit was always forthcoming at the right time. " But," he said, " do not prostitute your powers." Mr.. J. R. Clynes suggested that the rank and file ought to have asked for the necessary authority. Mr. E. Bevin, secretary of the Transport. Union, supported the motion,' but said he did not want forced unitv.

The discussion was then adjourned to enable the Standing Orders Committee to meet representatives of the unions. Most of the newspapers to day describe yesterday'!} proceedings at the Congress as a severe check to the left wing. The Daily Telegraph's correspondent says: " This ha;i been a bad day for the extremists in the Labour movement, whose attempt to stampede the congress into laying the foundation for a general strike, by giving the conncil the necessary powers, was defeated, though only in such a manner as to ensure a repetition of the attempt." The Labour paper, the Daily Herald, says many people -will read into the decision a meaning that is not warranted by the facts. They will, it says, talk of a rebuff to the left and espy splits and divisions in every speech. They will be wrong. A common-sense decision was reached, which opened the way to a united solution of a complex problem.