LABOR AND POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2327, 21 October 1908, Page 5

LABOR AND POLITICS.

THE POSITION IN WELLINGTON

A SPLIT IN THE CAMP

[Special to “Times.”]

WELLINGTON, Oct. 20. For sonic time past there have been evidences of a widening breach in the ranks of the Labor party in the capital. The latest evidence of the rift w.is the decision not to invite the Premier and his Ministers to the Labor Day demonstration, a thing unprecedented in connection with Wellington labor. Apparently, however, the decision was not unanimous, and at a meeting of the Trades and Labor Council there was rather an angry discussion on the subpect. .Attention was called to the fact that marked discourtesy had been shown to the Prime Minister and the other members of the Government by the omission of the Labor Day Committee to invite them to tlie demonstrations on Labor Day. A motion was proposed censuring the members of the .Council who .had written to the newsjapers for and against the action' of i.re committee. A lively discussion ensued, and some strong language was used. An amendment was moved that an apology should be sent to the' Ministers for the conduct of the committee, and tint the Council should disclaim responsibility for the comniittee’s action. In the course of the discussion, in which Messrs Young, McLaren, Casey, Naughton. Peardon, and others took a prominent part, it was alleged that the action In-.d been l iken, by the Independent Political Labor, Party for the purpose of discrediting, if possible, tlie Government. The actions of the two sec-, tions of labor were freely conimeivbT on. The members of the Libera-'ffs Labor Party contended .tile con-

Trades and Labor Conjj^'" o 'f. Uie present attitude, bud eg' rep i v W as tempt of the '™H£»' Tra des 'Union Dominion. To^ eld tll(? opinion vrouM resign from official that/*. and that he would U* st « X WT in the gutter” than be Sorter of the party to which. 1 speaker belonged, wimeV tho Liberal and Labor Party. The discussion lasted till halt-an-hour after midnight, no decision being arrived at, and the question will probably come up again nt the next moeting of the Council.