LABOUR AND THE GOVERNMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2849, 21 October 1908, Page 41

LABOUR AND THE GOVERNMENT.

A TRADES COUNCIL QUARREL. WELLINGTON, October 19. It is stated that at the last meeting of the Trades and Labour Council attention was called to the, fact that marked discourtesy had been shown to tho Prime Minister and ctfher members of the Government by the omission of the Labour Day Committee to invite them to the demonstration on Labour Day. A motion was proposed censuring the members of the council who had written to the newspapers for and against the action of the committee. A lively discussion ensued, and soraa plain, strong langage was used. An amendment was moved that an apology be sent to the Ministers for the conduct of the committee, and that the council should disclaim responsibility for the committee's action. In tha course, ot the discussion it was alleged that the action had been taken by the Independent Political Labour party for the purpose .of disci-editing, if possible, tho Government. The action of the two sections of Labour was freely commented on, members of the Liberal Labour party contending that the Trades and Labour Council by its present attitude had earned the contempt of the working men of the Dominion. To this the reply was made by a prominent trades union official that if he held the opinions just expressed he would resign from the council, and that he would rather " die in the gutter" than be » support«r of the party to which the previous speaker belonged— namely, the Liberal Labour party. The discussion lasted till half an hour after midnight. No decision was come to. The question will probably come up again at next meeting of tha council.