ORGANISED LABOUR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15064, 10 February 1911, Page 2

ORGANISED LABOUR.

PARTY FORMED IN DUNEDIN.

The Otago ' Trades and Labour Council bald a sneoial nie&ting last evening for the purpose of considering the question of establishing a new Labour party in Dunedin. Ibo first business of the meeting was consideration of ti>e following recommendations from the executive, which were adopted:—

(1) " That the party be formal within the ranks of organised labour, on the lines of the old Workers' Political Committee, and that tho constitution adopted by tho council oni Ma-y 26, 1910, with the inclusion of the olauscs adopted at the last conference ba the constitution on which the party be formed." (2) " That a copy of the constitution be forwarded to each union for approval, and that they be requested to appoint delegates in accordance with the constitution to represent them on the Political Council." The council then adopted the following provisional constitution setting up a Labour Representation Council:— Objoots.—(a) To consolidate the industrial interests by direct representation in Parliament and on local bodies, (b) To select candidates in :tomis of this constitution, (c) To genorally watch over the political and! social welfare of the people. Composition.—Tho council shall be composed of three delegates from the Trades and Labour Council and three delegates each from any organised Labour or progressive body. The council reserves to itself the right to Tofuse affiliation to aiiy organisation or to reject any delegate- where there is reason to doubt the bona fides of such organisation or delegate. Each bedy represented on the council shall have the privilege of submitting names for selection as candidates for Parliament or other elcc.tions, the council reserving the right to reject unsuitable persons. All accredited candidates for any elective office in tho interests of tho Now Zealand Labour party must sign tlw following pledge:—"l hereby pledge myself not to oppose the candidate selected by the Labour Representation Council, and if elected to do my utmost to carry out the principles embodied in the New Zealand Labour party's platform, and on all questions affectiina tho platform to vote as a majority of the Parliamentary party may decide at a duly constituted caucus meeting. I further pledge myself not to retire from the contest without the 00-.i----sent of tho Labour Representative Council." Names of all approved nominees shall Iμ submitted to all organisations rcprcscnUxl on the council, andi thosa receiving tho highest number of votes shall be tho candidates of tho council. A sitting member of Parliament signing allegiance to tho objective and platform shall bo the duly selected and cmdoraxl Labour party's candidate, and it thall not be obligatory upon him to go to a preliminairy selection ballot. This clause shall only apply to members of Parliament when contesting their first election under this constitution. Organisations with 50 (or less than 50) members shall have ono vote, and one vote for every additional 50 or portion thereof. Tho Trades and Labour Council shall have one v<(to; tho council to decide a tie. Any member of the council who has been nominated as a probable candidate for Parliament shall take no active part in connection with tho selection of tho candidate for tho particular constituency for which ho lias taon nominated. Tlk> working expenses of the oourncil shall be mot by fixed contributions from the societies represented on it.