“That a manifesto be issued to all Unions affiliated and all Trade Unions and Arbitration Unions in N.Z. outlining the position and calling for a national conference for the purpose of discussing the matter and bringing force to bear upon the Government and compelling it to repeal clauses in the I.C. and A. Act giving a minority the right to coerce a majority.”
On November 27 a circular was sent out to Unions outlining the reasons for calling the conference. This circular stated, inter alia:—
“In the determination to effectively grapple with the extraordinary and entirely unanticipated purposes to which Arbitration has been degraded and to settle among the Unions whether the minority or the majority of a calling shall govern, and further to solidify Union forces against the present Government, the Federation is convening a conference of Trade Unions, to be held in January next. It is believed that every Union will endeavour to be represented.”
A circular dated November 29, 1912, said, inter alia:
“The chief business of conference will be to consider the difficulties and dangers confronting Trades Unionism and to agree, if possible, upon a basis of combined action that will strengthen each and all, while making for the consolidation and emancipation of the great working class.”
Again, on January 3, 1913, a further circular was dispatched to the Unions. This circular stated, inter alia:—
“If Unionism, and the Labour Movement generally, is to advance in New Zealand, a vigorous campaign must be entered into to end the power of a party frankly hostile to Labour, and
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