Renewed Flare-up Within Labour Movement Imminent

Chronicle (Levin), 1 June 1949, Page 9

Renewed Flare-up Within Labour Movement Imminent

"WELLINGTON, May 31. The trouble inside the Labour movement whieh developed during fhe annual eonferences of the Federation of Labour and Labour Party, is expected to burst onee more into the news eolumns of the Press within the next week as delegates report baek to xunions and branehes and announcements of resignations become public. In Christchurch on Thursday night, at a meeting of the North Canterbury L.R.C., it is anticipated fhat there will be interesting developments which may touch off a sensationala train of events, it is stated. Already the national offtce of the Party is reported to have reeeived some resignations as the result of the Prime Minister's alleged break with party tradition in advocating conscription, and some sections of the trade union movement whieh are at loggerheads with those directing the present poliey, are said to be considering the formation of an Independent Labour Party. . In this they are encouraged by the entry into the politieal arena of a candidate of North Shore, Auckland, who styles himself Independent Labour and the foreeast is that there will be others contesting seats which are now held by the Government by small majorities. Seemingly these dissident elements feel so strongly on the conscription issue and the. decision of the Government to register What they always describe as the scab union of carpenters at Auckland, that they are interested mainly in putting the Government out oi office.

The present rumblings of diseontent are described as only the beginning of troubles in store. In Wellington today it was foreeast in certain union eircles that there will be widespread stoppages in the mines in the Auckland district and that these will be followed by the disloeation of other industries. The coal miners are reported to have voted against waiting for action by the Federation of Labour and to take action themselves in protest against the registration of the new Carpenters ' Union. If indeed they do take drastic action a two-f'old problem will be created — the federation will be further embarrassed and the Government will be plaeed in the position of having to take strong action against people it will be reluctant to antagonise further. With ten seats held by majorities of less than 1000, the Government has reason to be cautious •specially now that there is a sugti. - ' " " "" —

gestion that opposition from inside its own supporting ranks may eventuate. Dissidents in Wellington today mentioned Otahuhu (majority 220), Tamaki (-231) and North Shore (249) as seats which will be lost to the Government if I.L.P. candidates take the field. ■ Others where Labour has a tenuous hold are Raglan (139), Roskill (155), Oamaru (232), Hastings (483), -Timaru (520), Waimarino (681), Palmerston North (928). In none of these s£ats, the dissidents allege, can the Government alford to take chanees and they suggest that in addition to I.L.P. candidates, it is possible Mr. J. A. Lee and Communist Party candidates may also take places on the hustings. Their attitude, apparently, i& that Labour should not introduce conscription in defiance of the Party tradition, or sponsor scab unions, and they would sooner see what they term a Tory Government on the Treasury benches anc be able to fight it outright, than . have to support a Government which they feel has betrayed them and the principles for which they stand. This attitude is summed up by a prominent trade union leader who said: "Imagine Mr. Fraser and Mr. Holland on the same platform advocating conscription,? What about the Party 's loyaltj rule in that case? Association with members of another politieal party is forbidden, so what then!"