TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCILS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14668, 30 October 1909, Page 9

TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCILS.

-o ANNUAL CONFERENCE. (Vr.B OkITBB i'RKSS Association,) WELLINGTON, October 28. The coir'orenco of tho Trades and Labour Councils of tlio Dominion was resumed. The lions. A. li. tiniuntas, M.P., .'). T Paul, M.L.C., and Messrs J. F. Arnold, A. 15. Glover, 0. H Poole, li". E. Baume, Mr Witty, and G. Forbes, M.l'.'s, were, in attendance during tho day. Welcomes wore extended to tile who replied in terms-of sympathy with the object's of Labour. Mr Willy said the Literal parly had dons much for the workers.' It they put the- other side in they would get nothing from them, as (heir bymnailiies were with wealth and tho big niun ovary time. A motion was carried with acclamation conveying hearty approval and moral sup. iport to Air Lloyd George in his courageous ellort l0 | brity about better conditions in the Motherland, unci expressing a sincere hope that liis efforts would be crowned wit'll tho success desired by u ll lovers of humanity. The conference discussed tho general principles contained iir tho Hon. A. 11. Guinness s tutioiial sick and accident insurance schoineSpankers eonieixicd that the workers had to pay for tkir return'. Uixbr Iho Moilcors Compensation Act there wa* "rent difliculty in obtaining, compensation when they were juiuy entitled to it, and too much money wont into the po[ . k ', (s ot tno Kuyers. In consoimonec of this they Wi ""f f "« s .« l '"» such as ths one proposed, whereby |h„ services of the lawyers coiild b dw.wusrt will,. The pi,;,,,., ; 11-itucl-; ol (he msuraueo companies TO adversely criticised, owing ( 0 tf„. „,;i'nnei>n wmch ii was aliased t% endeavouied to escape their Labilities, Tli* b : ll would' protect tho workers from the insura.M companion and unscrupulous omplovers. Tho eouferepce unanimously approved Hie Scleral principles embodiod in l,|, c scheme A vote oi thanks was passed to tho.Hon. All Guinness for his action) in the matter. The inlerrupiod debate was proceeds with on , I 0 Kmit f|om SSonthlnnd—- X4ik£ Hie time has now- ;m ivcd whjn the Tkk'«s am Labour Councils should take d.-linite aetiov m endeavouring to TC tur„ labour members to Parliament." - thai'' t K Whi , H, i= (C*nterbury) denial that tho proposal for a distinct Labour arty w-oulcl «und the do-ath-knell oftho Proposal .Labour Federation. J t would bo rio making „f if. They should St old system of unionism, and go in f or they could force the hands of Parliament, Mr J. Alsweiler (Southland) urged a seinrain Labour party. What was ths ,h [ hem having a groat platform and urging ;o-orm unless their demands were backed }'!'• Labour was not strong now. because it was disorganized w-au.c, carried *• * Mr T. Long (Auckland) advocated cutting he painter with the Liberal party. \ Go wh,ch b roughtdow l „ , u 5 J h a bSI *> tho needs and exertion wa»o was . o friend of the workers Wll- V' (Wellington) «id the Wellington Trades Council, with one or two exceptions, had for years been advocating an independent Labour partv. ineylia:! the nucleus, in the present House of forming , w independent partv, but they wore lacking a leader. Mr W. S. Moxsom (Auckland) considered tho tune had arrived when a class war was Going to take place. Without political action their rase was hopeless. Mr O'Byrne, in replying, pointed out that the free passes formerly granted by the Conservative Government to delegates attending tha conference, had been laken away by tho Liberal Government — (Voices: "We don't want them.) Mr OBryno: I say a fervent "Amen" to tliaL-(Tlio Hon. J. Ban: "So mote it be.") Mr O'Byrnc said they were feeding some of their people on swede turnips, yet (lie Government was bringing immigrants to tho country and giving Dreadnoughts away. The motion was carried by 22 votes to two. Mr J. H. Hall (East Coast) moved:That, tho conference be requested to seel; affiliation with the Australian trades and labotti councils, with a, view to consolidating organised labour." The mover pointed out the advantages which would accrue frcm such a course, and said ho considered .such an affiliation was »■ foregone conclusion. The motion was carried by 14 voles to five.' . Tin? conference reaffirmed the resolution passeo. at previous sittings that tho Govctnment bo urged to nationalise the iron industry, also that it be urged to cancel the agreement leasing the l'arapara iron ore deposit to the iato J. A. Cadmaji, and at present held in trust by the Publio Trustee, and that the State should work tho iron deposits in the interests of tho people. Mr T. Long (Auckland) moved—" That tho Government be urged to open up State real mines and depots in tho North Island." He umr-ed that a depot should be started in Auckland, as there was / coal ring there which kept up the price of coal. The present price was monstrous, and seeing the Government had coal deposits in the Waikato, it should open them up and establish depots as speedily as, possible, thus reducing !]ie price to the consumer. Mr W. Naughten (Wellington) said the on'y way of effectively dealing with monopolies was by starting in business against them. Tho motion was carried, ■with an amendment that coal mines and depots should ba opened up to meet the-convenience of tho whole of tie people of tha Dominion. Mr W. T. Young (Wellington) moved— "That in lira opinion oi the eo'nferonc© it is desirable that in the best interests of New Zealand 'there should be a State connecting link between l-ire North and South Islaixl, and with that object in view we urge upon the Government the desirability of taking over the steam ferry service between Lyttellon mill Wellington." Tlie motion was carried. Mr It. Waiting (Canterbury) moved— "That the Government be. urged to start State bcot and clothing f.-.ctories, ami that live conference snjjests the cstablishnieitl of them in tlio North and in the South Island." The speaker said ff tin's were done the Stato could save to the publio annually in aespect to bcots and slices a sum of £58,fvU. The pubiie should be able to get an article oi. iwcessity at a reasonable

price, and employees should reoeivo reasonable remuneration for their work. The Government had established tho precedent of State industries, and there was no reason why this should not be- extended to the bootmaking industrv. Mr W. H. Warren (Otigo) said tboss cngaed in shoemalcing were the worst paid of any. Tho protective, theory had be«n proved conclusively to be detrimental to the interests of tho community. Mr Horning (Auckland) moved a 6 an, amendment—" That tho Government bo urged to nationalise tho bootmakiug and clothing industries of tho Dominion.." Mr it, Whiting, in replying, stated that the Bootmakers' Federation was sincere in asking the Government to start State boot factories. It had offered tho Government •£2OOO if it would do so. That offer was still open. The amendment was lost, and tho motion carried. On the motion of Mr Jackson (Wostlaml) it was decided to recommend that section 53 of •' The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Act, 1003," bo struck out, and that section 5' of the principal act be re-enacted. This was agreed to, the object being to permit industrial unions to be formed with a membership of seven, instead of 16 as now required. A large number of amendments to the Shipping and Seamen Act were proposed by Mr \V. T. Young (Wellington). These dealt with an increase in tho manning scale, desertion,, boat drill, certificates of discharge, steer oars for life-saving boats, allocation of boat stations, and lifc-savim? precautious. Ho contended that such alterations would help to minimise fatalities in such cases as the Penguin wreck. Tho amendments wore agreed to. Other motions passed were as follow:— "That the Government be urged to bring down a scheme to utilise tho water power of the Dominion for the public benefit." "That tho Government bo urged to acquire a mail-currying service instead of subsi-! dising private shipowners." "That tho present position of tho Governmont coal service is incomplete, and ihc time has arrived when the Government should haveits own colliers" "That the Government bfl urged to establish State, flourmills for the purpose of supplying the iiooplc of the Dominion with flour at a reasonable cost." "That the incoming executive be instructed lo devisj a scheme for the appointment of an Organising agent to follow up the Arbitration Court and conduct all cases on behalf of affiliated unions, such scheme to be submitted to th« affiliated councils and unions for approval." The conference will be resumed tomorrow. Amongst the visitors present was Mr T. E. Taylor, M.P., who, in replying to a. welcome extended to him, congratulated the conference on its decision that the time had arrived for direct representation of Labour in the H.mso of Itepresentntivcs. They should endeavour to establish a Labour party and be a solid faotor, not hanging on to the skirls of some other party. They only had to luurg together to ,hecoine a solid force. Mr K. Trcgcar (Secretary of Labour), was present, also Messrs T. feuxton and H. (!. EH, M.l'.'s. The last named expressed tho opinion tawt the conference l was making a groat mistake, iir attempting to establish an independent political Labour party in Parliament. They should endeavour to return labour members to work with the most progressive party. Mr W. T. Young (Wellington! moved that th? conference affirms the principle of a "citizens' voluntary defence force" and tlu establishment of aiv Australian navy, as proposed by the Federal Labour party.' Mr Keyling seconded the motion. 'Mr Maughton (Wellington) said it was h'-ie duty of every man to defend his country. He believed in compulsory military training, as ho thought it the best way to prevent conscription. It had boon argued by' some that if there were compulsory training the men might be called out in times of industrial strife lo turn th» guns on the dissenting workers. In his opinion the best way to prevent this was by having n compulsory system, and then there would lis no fear of one section of the workers turning the guns on airothei, section, Mr Pritobard: They have done it. MrNiiughton: Where? A Voice: In Queensland. Mr Xanghton: Then they must have beei» different men from the ' workers of this Dominion. A Voice: Not at all. Mr Nausrhtor. - explained that he was opposed to the motion, hut had fo vote in 1 favour of it by direction of his'council. Mr J. 11. IlaJI moved as an amendment that the conference strongly support a. system of compulsory military training. Mr Mart (Canterbury) seconded 'he ame-ildnieiit.- lie was strongly in favour of compulsory training, so that, when the time arrived, instead of having men little bettor than mummies to defend them they would b» more in the nature of fighting

Tin Chairman, on a point of order, raised by Mr Noot', ruled that the amendment wh-j in order. His ruling was questioned, an:l Mr K Howard' was teniMC-rarilv voted to the chair while tho meeting decided the point. The chairman's ruling was upheld. Mr E. Howard (Canterbury) strongly 6upporled the motion. He did not desire to be mi'.dj a murderer by legislation. The compulsory system was altogether unneceswry.

Mr D. U. Sullivan (Canterbury) supported the amendment, and suggested the addition that the conference express approval of tho naval sirrangemente entered into by the Prime Minister with the naval authorities in Groat Britain.

Mr I). M'Laren, M.P., opposed lite compulsory system. Under such the pcciple would bo trained not merely for defensive purpescsj but also aggressive purpose, and for the aggrandisement of a class. Under compulsion the command would not ta in the lands of the masses. They would be under the control of men in the bands of the capitalistic 6la*s, and the workers required to have their eyes opened to this. Civilians should always come first. They should not attempt to turn the mass of civilians iirto soldiers dopi'inafed by officers, who would wield democracy to their own use In the interest of Labour an'd the masees of the people he urged them to stay their hand and hesitate before they affirmed a position, which was destructive to thei.- liberties. Mr T. Long (Auckland) contended that compulsory military (service would prevent anything in the nature of conscription 1 . Tlio people who had the most to protect should nay the most towards the defence of the country. The nutter was debated at great length, practically every delegate expressing his views. ' The amendment was lost by 14 votes to 11, and the motion carried by 15 to 10. October 29. The Labour Conference affirmed the betterment principle in connection with railway construction, with the object of putting it on a more scientific and ecpiitablo baeis, in the hope that it will act as a curb on political influence. Mr J. H. Hall (East Coast) moved-,! "That the Government be urged to lix' separate day** for the general election and local option poll." The speaker contended that the local option poll obscured the political issues, and therefore unduly interfered with tho election of representatives. The moron was lost by 13 to 7. Mr Hall also moved that the Government ba urged to alter the present local option law to allow of a vote being taken on State control, and tho elimination of the. reduction clause. He contended that the reduction clause created monopoly. Many people- who were in favour of State control wore practically disfranchised, as they, were not given an opportunity to vote on such an issue. The motion was lost on tho voices. Mr O'Bynie (Southland) moved that the Government be asked lo bring in an act to provide proper and sufficient accommodation for bush sawmill workers, and that employers provide up-to-date ambulance chests and appliances, with printed instructions thereon as to their use. The mover said tho motion concerned some 6000 men between Auckland and the Bluff. The accommodation provided in Southland in -:omo instances was disgraceful, and no redress could be obtained from the Arbitration Court. He had been in mills where 15 men were employed, and there was not aocommodttion for four men. Tho motion was carried. Other motions passed were as follow:— "That all gcotlg manufactured in New Zealand shall be branded 'Made in New Zealand ' and also bear ihe manufacturer's name. The Colonial Executive was instructed to prepare a schedule and submit it to the Minister of Labour; that the conference petition strongly against, tho proposals to grant free emigration to domestic pervanls; that the conference urges the Government to go in more extensively for the building of workmen's j dwellings in tho larger towns outeid© tlio j chief centres; that the Government be urged to bring down a Fair Rent Bill j during the next f/?ssion." j

Tho conference will be finished tomorrow.