TRADES UNIONS

Southland Times, Issue 20586, 10 September 1928, Page 7

TRADES UNIONS

SWANSEA CONGRESS AN UPROARIOUS DEBATE MR THOMAS SHOUTED DOWN (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) London, September 7. Mr J. H. Thomas’s bitter attack on the policy of grovelling to Russia and sneers from the miners’ delegate at Mr Thomas’s frock coat and topper at Ascot were features of an uproarious Trades Union Council debate at Swansea. The Engineering Union put forward a motion that the Trades Union Council should call a world conference to include nations affiliated with the Red International to re-establish the Polo-Russian joint Advisory Council. Mr Thomas said: “We were disrupted by Russia in 1927 because it misrepresented and lied about us. The same tactics are in evidence to-day. We are not going grovelling to them while they ruin their own country and try to ruin our conference. He was then shouted down. Mr Williams, a Forest Dean miner, said there was small difference between Tomsky and Thomas. It did not matter whether a proletarian wore a shirt or a silk hat, but it was essential that the workers of the w’orld should unite. The resolution was defeated by 2,877,000 votes to 437,000. Mr Will Thorne said the Communists were trying to work their way into every trade union branch just as Lenin had wormed his way into the Russian movement in 1917. Personally he w’ould like to see Comrade Stalin present because it would be found the Soviet was not getting value for their money here. Mr Herbert Smith said Mr W’illiams was not speaking for the miners. Congress was unanimously agreed that there should be effective public control and co-ordination of all transport with compulsory regulation for insurance.

The Transport Unions’ representative said his union was asking for restriction on the insane road competition. He urged a restriction in the driving licenses as some of the car hands were cripples. Mr Cook has been ordered a complete rest.—Australian Press Association.