British Labour Prepares For Election

Chronicle (Levin), 8 January 1949, Page 3

British Labour Prepares For Election

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter*

Com/riQht)

Eeceivea. Jfriaay, e.ou p.m. - LONDON, Jan.:: 7. In order to leave as, mueb time as possible for discussion of tbe election programme all Labour Farty brancbes bave' been asked to avoid overloading tbe agenda for tbe next pai'ty conference wbicb will be lield early in J uno at Blackpool. Tbe conference will occupy f.our and a-lxalf days, of wbicb it is expected tbafat least two will be devoted to the election programme. Tbe national exeeutive committee of the party is now j)utting tbe linal toucbes to" tbe draft policy wbicb bas been tbe particular concern of Mr. Herbert Morrison for some time past. Tbe Labour Party lieadquarters are also linalisiug tbe list- of candidates ror tbe election. This is expected to inelude 250 new candidates in addition to tbe sitting Labour members who will seek reelection. Tbe cases of several of tbese members who bave not proved amenable to party discdxiline are likely to be considered at an exeeutive meeting later this nionth when it \vill be decided whetber their candidaev will continutj to be sponsored by tbe party. Mr. James Griftitlis, JMinister of National Insmianee, who is chairman-elec't of the Labour Party, has issued a statement claiming the number of party members to be 000,000, and appealing to brancbes to increase tbis tO 1,000,000 before tbe election.