29
they needed until they had something like an equality of pur
chasing power throughout the community.
The amendment was lost, as was also a further amend
ment moved by E. Friend (Yellum Binders’ Society).
J. Eels (Vacant Lands Cultivation Society) moved and
F. Verinder seconded an amendment advocating the taxation
of Land Values “and the relief of industry from all rates
and taxes.”
The amendment was lost.
The original resolution, with the additions that had been
accepted, was then put to the Conference and carried with two
dissentients, as follows :—
“That this Conference declares that Unemployment
(with its evil variant under-employment) is a chronic dis
ease of society; that the Government should at once take
steps, as far as practicable, to prevent this grave social
disease; that it should, by the creation of a Ministry of
Labour, granting such facilities as are necessary for the
Immediate passing of a Right to Work Bill, and also by
systematically rearranging the Government works and
orders, and by dovetailing occupations and jobs, and by
the legislative restriction of the hours of labour, regular
ise the national aggregate demand for labour year by year
and season by season, and decasualise casual labour, and
that where the National Labour Exchange fails to dis
cover a situation for any person maintenance should be
provided for him or her and his or her children under
suitable educational and other conditions calculated to
utilise the periods of involuntary unemployment in such
a way as to prevent deterioration.”
On the motion of George Lansbury, it was agreed
that the Labour Party should be asked, through their chair
man, George N. Barnes, M.P., to present the two resolutions
passed by the Conference to the Prime Minister and the Leader
of the Opposition.
On the motion of G. N. Barnes, M.P., a vote of thanks
to the Chairman was carried with acclamation, to which Mr.
Hobson briefly responded, and the proceedings then ter
minated.