During the course of Congress, the gaoling of boys who refused to undergo compulsory military training was discussed, and it was decided that a representative deputation wait upon Mr. Massey, the Prime Minister, to insist that these indignities cease.
A suggestion came from the body of the room that delegates should march in a body to Parliament House to give emphasis, as it were, to the deputation. This was agreed to, and like the animals entering the mythical Ark, in two’s, we commenced our parade from St. Peter’s Schoolroom to Willis Street and Lambton Quay to Parliament House—three hundred and fifty delegates, and each with a red badge on his coat. It was an imposing procession, and as spontaneous as it was imposing.
The composition of the United Federation of Labour, as finally agreed to, differed but little from that of the Federation of Labour, except that provision was made for ten departments instead of eight, as provided for under the Federation rules. The departments agreed to were as follows:—
- Building Trades Department;
- Mining Department;
- Transportation Department;
- Printing Trades Department;
- Agricultural and Pastoral Department;
- Boot, Textile, and Clothing Trades Department;
- Wood and Metal Department;
- Shop, Office, and Warehouse Department;
- Food Workers’ Department;
- Miscellaneous Trades and General Labourers’ Departments.
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