TRADES AND LABOUR CONFERENCE.

West Coast Times, 20 April 1911, Page 4

TRADES AND LABOUR CONFERENCE.

FURTHER’BUSINESS.

[.PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.-—COPYitICHT ?

CHRISTCHURCH, April 19.-Tlie Hie Trades and Labour Conference was contiued to-day under the Chairmaiiship of Mr J. Bearclon, President, ol AA ellington. The Conference agreed to the Wellington remit that the Trades Unions be empowered to investigate alleged cases of breaches of the Factories Act and take the cases to Court.

( The Canterbury remit, urging the Go.eminent to introduce legislation making use of the words “made in New Zealand” as a brand compulsory was carried.

A deputation of Iron Masters waited on the conference to urge the need for protection of their manufactures, declaring that protection would enable their industry to employ up to 5000 additional skilled workers. Consideration of the matter was postponed. There was a long discussion on the Canterbury remit to reduce the hours per week under the Factories Act to 44. An amendment in favour of 40 hours was rejected and the original motion carried.

Later. At the Federation of Labour Conference of Tracies’ Council delegates this morning the question of federation with the Miners’ Union was brought up. The annual report of the executive stated that last year a conference between representatives of the Trade Councils and the Miners’ Federation had proved abortive and a remit from Otago “that the conference be requested to make a further effort to bring about an amalgamation , of the ' two federations of labour” was the first order of the day v Mr E. J. Carey said that while the miners were standing for their present constitution there was no chance of amalgamation -with the Shearers’ Union. The miners formed some 7.000 yet- they stood up and told 45.000 or 50,000 unionists that they must agree to a policy set out by the miners. He hojied that the remit would he carried, and that the delegates is> the conference would stand firm. Mr D. McLaren M.P., said that if 'the basic principles of the bodies were opposite they could not be mixed. The miners had two policies, one printed and registered and the other very little heard of. AVhile the Trade Unions were anxious to seek amalgamation they could not mix trade, union principles with those of industrial unionism, for the two were diametrically opposed. He understood .that the miners were opposed to trade unionism. If the idea were to form one big union with tyrannic power the body of tho workers would not endorse it.

Mr E. J. Howard said that the previous conference had never got down to basic principles and the whole time had been spent in splitting exceedingly small straws. The miners could hardly be accused of having an ideal of one union. If a heart, to heart talk could he held on the question it would be found that there wag very little difference.

Mr M. Laracy said that a conference would have a good result. The workers wanted to see the. two bodies amalgamated, but the two had been kept apart by bogies. It would be quite possible to get a conference this week.

- Mr W. T. Young said that there had since last year been a very material alteration in the objective of the Miners’ Federation. The clause advocating socialisation of the means of production and distribution, had been deleted. That made the miners objects more in common with those of the Trades Councils’ Federation, and he was almost sure of a proper amal-

gamation. • The 'Hon T. J. Paul said tliat an amalgamation would need to have the approval of the workers. It was a matter that required explanation why the miners had left the Trades Councils He was sure .that the majority ; of the miners were still with the Trades. Councils, and if they had an amalgamation on the lines suggested by the miners leaders it would be wrong, Unless industrial and political ■ action were harmonised hot; progress,:' would be- made.'; The bases of amalgamation .was not far from, the decision of the conferences; which had the approval of the bulk of the;miners. The- motion; t.that the conference should be requested to arrange another meeting was carried unanimously. J It was resolved to telegraph at.ones to t the Miners’ j Federation asking it, to arrange a .conference as quickly as possible.