THE FEDERATION OF LABOUR.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11340, 2 May 1912, Page 4

THE FEDERATION OF LABOUR.

In spite of the fact that, as we have previously demonstrated, there is no fundamental difference between the United Labour Party and tho Federation of juahour, either in their general aims, or in the ultimate means by which they propose to secure thorn, both being frankly socialistic, and both being determined to make use of the strike—the lar.uer body still remains froo from the alliance, and proposes to hold a conference of its own towards the end or this month. "The Dominion," wo notice, takes tho same view of the real relations of the two parties as we did when tiie Union of Labour was announced at Easter time. "It is tho game of the United Labour party," that paper says, "to represeut itself as something entirely distinct in kind from the Federation of Labour; but there is really little if any material difference between them. The Federation, with its rash leaders, makes an excellent stalking horse for tho Socialistic programme of the Uiiity movement. Mr Mills and his friends are using the Federation rather skilfully by representing it as tho enemy, the idea being to divert the attention of the general public from the main movement of t.ne Socialistic army, which is the United La Dour party." Such being undoubtedly tho case, it is interesting to study tho agenda paper which will receive the attention of the Federation Conference in Wellington, because we may be sure tnat it represents the aims and policy not of the Federation alone, but of the whole of labour throughout New Zealand. Wo need not go into all the remits: a few of the most typical proposals aro sufficient to disclose the first steps whicu are to be taken to bring the whole of society under the domination of labour. Thus, unconditional preference to unionists is desired. Tho Government is to be urged to bring wages of casual workers up to those ruling for similar work in tho district in which the men aro employed; and it is also to bo urged to rule forty-four hours as a working week on all public works. Again, agreements aro the subject of a number of remits, one of which urges the advisability of not signing agreements wherever it can be avoided. Tho peculiar morality of that proposal will commend itself to everyone. Then, it is proposed that the Federation bo transformed into a National Industrial Union of Workers of the World, and the organisation of all men employed on Government public works is advocated. Finally, the abolition of compulsory military training is to be sought. We have quoted enough of tho programme of the Federation, to show upou how dangerous a policy for the well-being of society as a whole -Labour iv this country is prepared to embark, and it behoves the people for their own protection to see that such a Government is established as shall not give way to the demands of what is fast becoming a pure and simple unbridled fanaticism.