BRITISH LABOUR CONGRESS.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14128, 3 July 1916, Page 5

BRITISH LABOUR CONGRESS.

THE COST OF LIVING.

STATE OWNERSHIP OF SHIPS

ADVOCATED

ANTI-CONSCRIPTION MOTION

REJECTED

London, June 30.

Six hundred delegates, representing three million unionists, Mr Gosling presiding, discussed the dearness of food and fuel, and resolved by 1,516,000 to 1,269,000 in favour of Government ownership of all merchant shipping. It was resoluved that the. action o£ buyers and sellers in holding up food or fuel should,be illegal and subject to heavy penalties. A resolution was also passed deitanding an increase of 50 per cent in the old age pensions during the period of high prices.

The Congress passed- a resolution that the Military Service Act was being used for industrial cocscription, and calling upon the Government to deal with the grave menace to industrial labour.

An amendment pledging the Congress to endeavour to seeaxe the repeal of the Act was negatived by a three to one majority. .

Other resolutions asked for the imposition of a war tax on personal wealth, and requested the Government to instruct the military authorities not to send anyone under twenty to the front.