THE LABOUR FEDERATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 20, 22 January 1913, Page 6

THE LABOUR FEDERATION.

TO-DAY’S Sill iNG

The Labour Conference met to-day, the Hon. J. Rigg presiding. Sympathy with Slaughtermen.

Mr. P. Eraser moved: “This conference expresses its whole-hearted sympathy With the slaughtermen now on strike, and cordially wishes them every success in the struggle for economic betterment.” The motion was seconded by Mr. Agar and carried by acclamation. Unregistered Unions. On behalf of the Federation of Labour, Mr. Parry moved: “That provided that when an industrial union of workers cancels its registration, a? provided for in clause 21 of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, no union shall be registered in that industry or in any part of that industry covered by the union which has cancelled its registration, unless the majority of members of such organisation express by secret ballot their desire to so register. h Mr. Cbppersmith seconded. Mr. H. Hunter, supporting the motion, said that so just was the dissatisfaction existing with the Arbitration Court in his union that were it not for the probability of a new union being formed under the Act, they would before to-day have cancelled the registration. Mr. Wallace gave illustrations to show how the clause in the Act covered by the remit had acted against the liberty of the Freezers’ Union. Messrs. Campbell, Kennedy, and Fulton supported the remit, and Mr. Woodham opposed the motion as being undemocratic. Mr. Tregear said he supported the motion with a whole heart, and soul, and suggested alteration in the remit providing no union shall be registered under the Arbitration Act after notice of cancellation had been given. This would, he said, prevent such difficulties as recently threatened the slaughtermen after having given notice of cancellation. Mr. W. T. Young agreed with the remit, but defended the Arbitration Act against many of the accusations against it, saying that his union owed mucii to its operation. Mr. Semple said all that was meant by the remit was that Democracy should rule in the industrial arena.- As it stood at present, the Act whs being used against its original intention of its framers, which was to foster trade. Unionism was now being used by the employing class to smash trade Unionism.

The conference appointed a special committee consisting of Messrs. Tregear, Young, Hickey, Parry, and Sullivan to re-draft the remit and report on other remits dealing with the Arbitration Act.