Much valuable time was wasted in these recriminations, which reached their height when Professor W. T. Mills, of America, arrived in New Zealand, and constituted himself aggressor-in-chief for the Trades and Labour Councils. But even the doughty Professor was kept on the defensive by the very determination of our onslaughts and the Dominion-wide co-operation of the rank and file of the Federation.
In his organising and propaganda work, Mr. Semple was very frequently unsparing of his criticism of the craft union and its official. His forceful personality, his fiery eloquence, and his extra-ordinary capacity for illustration, stung many a reactionary official to the quick, what time it arrested the attention and won the approval of the inquiring minds in the rank and file of the unions. And when, following on this propaganda, there came a wide-scale literature distribution, it could have only one result. In almost every union in New Zealand there was an enthusiastic band of Federation supporters.
The 1910 Conference received a letter from the Dominion Executive of the Trades and Labour Councils asking that a deputation be received from that body to discuss the question of unity. It was decided, after a lengthy discussion, that the Federation meet representatives of the Trades and Labour Council. This meeting took place in Christchurch. The Federation delegates were: Messrs. Webb, Semple, Glover, and Hickey; the Trades and Labour Council being represented by Messrs. J. A. McCullough, J. Young, R. Whiting, and J. T. Paul.
The delegates exchanged views all day without anything being done, and parted in the most friendly manner. The Trades Council would not accept our
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