LABOUR IN POLITICS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7355, 6 February 1911, Page 5

LABOUR IN POLITICS

REVERSAL OF OSBORNE JUDG-MENT DEMANDED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrtehl LONDON, February b. The Leicester Coulcronco lias dosed. The conference instructed the executive to reinbtoduce itnmodi a.te!y a Lilt to reverse the Osborne judgment, and calk'd on the Government to deal with tho unemployment question on the linos of the party's Right to Work Bill, THE SYDNEY CONFERENCE. SYDNEY, February 4. The Labour Congress rejected a motion in favour of making land nationalisation tho second plank of its platform. A resolution was carried Unit any Government servant contesting an election shall not lose his position in the service, lint should bo allowed time olf at his own ftipense. POWERS OF FEDERAL PARLIAMENT. (Received February 6, 0.20 a.m.) SYDNEY, February 5. The Labour Congress reaffirmed the claim for absolute preference to unionists. It was resolved, after a heated debate, 1 that tho inter-State Conference which draws up the Federal Labour platform ought to bo reconstructed on a population basis and that a conference elected on the present basis should do nothing but carry out such a reconstruction. Mr Holman, New South Wales Attor-ney-General, in moving this, declared that unices tho functions handed over to tho Federal Parliament wore safeguarded ho and others like him would he driven out of tho Labour movement. Mr Holman subsequently moved that the Labour movement opposes any further extension of ,the powers of the. Federal Parliament until.the Constitution has been reorganised upon lines which will socuro parliamentary supremacy. The discussion on this was adjourned till Monday night. A FIGHTING PLANE. (Received February 5, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, February 5. Tho Labour Congress carried a resolution that every member governed by an award under the Industrial Disputes Act should contribute to the funds of the muon obtaining such award, and this will bo made a plank of the fighting platform, Another resolution favoured the increase of the honorariums of members of State Parliaments to LSOO. ME MACDONALD : STRONG MAN OF TIES PARTY. (Received February 5, 5.5 pan.) LONDON, February 5. The conference negatived u resolution in favour of proportional representation. It was resolved that the Board of Trade should allow trade councils and •trade unions to hold ordinary meetings in Labour Exchange buildings. A recommendation was adopted that the State pay in tho case of accidents to workmen, with compensation by means of charges upon the industries concerned and without the workers contributing. The conference demanded a minimum wage and a forty-eight hours week in Government factories and contracts. Tho ‘‘ Daily Express," commenting on the conference, describes Mr Ramsay MacDonald as the strong man of the Labour party, and remarks' upon his contempt for the futile efforts of the other leaders and his consummate skill in controlling without seeming to rule. Hiis marked supremacy presages for him a distinguished future.