NEW LABOUR PARTY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8735, 18 May 1914, Page 4

NEW LABOUR PARTY

OTAGO ORGANISATION. HON. J. T. PAUL EXPLAINS. Special to tho “ Times.” CHRISTCHURCH, May 16. In a brief interview to-day, the Hon J. T. Paul gave some information regarding tho new Labour organisation formed in Otago. Mr Paul said that the Otago Labour Council, though at present a purely local organisation, had national aspirations. Tho constitution of the Otago Trades and Labour Council had been amended to enable tho new body to take political as well as industrial action. Already there are twenty-six unions affiliated to tho council, whilst there is only one Otago union affiliated to the Social Democratic party and the United Federation of Labour. The new movement in Otago .has been taken up very enthusiastically, and there was every prospect of something of a substantial character growing out of it. . “ The reason for it is to be found in tho failure of tho attempts in tho past to establish a national labour organisation,” added Mr Paul. .“These efforts having failed, it was found necessary to save the local. labour position, and tho formation of the Otago Labour Council was considered the best step to be taken to attain that object. . In establishing it wo have been inspired by the hope that the day is not far distant when a truly national organisation representative of the workers will bo an accomplished fact. As far as Dunedin is concerned, there is NO possibility of tho Social Democratic party or tho United Federation of Labour representing the workers there. Tho constitution and aims of the new organisation are, generally, in liarmony with those of the United. Labciu party.”