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 from of organisation, and since we could not possibly entertain theirs, an impasse was inevitable. The Trades Councils could not agree to any departure from the annual capitation of 1d. per year. With this sum the absurdity of attempting to build a national organisation was evident to the Federation’s representatives, if not to those of the Trades Councils. The Federation’s capitation was 4s. per year. This amount, it was felt, was hardly enough to cover the expenses of a virile organisation.

At every subsequent conference of the Federation, representatives of either the Trades Councils or the Political Labour Party waited upon delegates, and although there was nothing approaching an agreement arrived at, these delegations, nevertheless, had the effect of keeping alive the need of an understanding between the two bodies.

The 1910 Conference, on a motion submitted by the West Coast Workers’ Union, decided to consider the question of establishing a weekly Labour paper. Hitherto every attempt, in this direction had failed. Auckland, Dunedin and Wellington were all strewn with the wrecks of Labour papers. That we could possibly fail never entered our heads. Of course, we knew nothing about the technical side of a paper, but that did not deter us in the slightest. It was decided that the name of the paper should be “The Labour Leader,” and that it should have a red cover. These matters were decided before the question of finance was considered. The resolution establishing the paper reads as follows: “That a Board be set up, and that a circular be drafted and