SOCIALIST CONGRESS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 176, 20 April 1908, Page 9

SOCIALIST CONGRESS.

; CONFERENCE .OF 'DELEGATES. .',Tho preliminary meeting pf tho first Conference- -of Delegates from tho , various branches' of tho Socialist party in Now Zealand was hold in the Socialist Hall, Manners Street, 'Wellington, pn Saturday evening last. Credentials were reported from 33 delegates, representing 3000 activc Socialists in various parts of; the Dominion.The.following o/l.icers were, elected:—Chairman, Comradellobert.Hogg ;■ secretary, Com•rj>do; H. Larner ; minuto secretarjv C'omrado S. J. Binning. .■ :,v ■ ' SuggostionG-for.the order paper wero tabled as follow: — • ; ;I.' Election of Provisional Executive. 2. National I'latfonu—(a) That as the party as a whole " takes no part ill 1 present-day poli- : • ' ties/ it be art' instruction to tlie National Exccutivo to'.draw up a /manifesto.' '-, ' (b) the'■ party,- 'as a voting •. power,' take part' iii the general : .election ? ■' - - • 3. Standing of branches— - ' Co-operation in the expenses of dele- ■" . 'gates. ' " -' '. i,/ i. Endorsement of. the preamble, of . the industrial workers of the world: . ■ 5. Affiliation with -the Socialist Party ; of Australia— (a) .Tho. necessity , for-enrolment ,m\; - - ..the. International Socialist Party., . (b);The necessity.for.the registration '. -i' i -of tho'iSpbi&liai' Party. •••' :; '" 6. Engagoment of organisers./' ; i 7. Making • the 'monthly "Common- ; :weal "'' newspaper v.the organ of tho . . • party—' ■.. : ' V-' The discussion of ways and ■ means" - for purchasing a printing plant for ' . - tho " Commonweal." i,- . 8. Special— : . (a) The establishment of classes for the education of tho youth of' New /Zealand, in Socialistic, principles. (. (b)' Arrangements, for futuro confer- - 1 eiices. - .' '. -• . / • Considerable discussion ensued as to tho admission of Press reporters to the deliberations -of the conference. It was finally resolved.'that tho Press bo cordially invited to send .representatives to the Monday meetand that the Sundity meetings bo reported by! the".-minuto sccrotary. -.' The Cpnferenco then adjourned-till'Sunday, at 3 o'clock. • • When the Conference resumed yesterday afternoon, 30 delegates answered tho rollcall. Comrade Hogg w'as voted to tho chair. '"Comrade Tom Mann,, who was in attendance, was cordially invited to take part, in tho deliberations. ' ' : - The Chairman, in thanking- tho meeting for his election, expressed pleasure at, tho ''assembly of delegates.; It was only prolimin-: ary to future active work, but would introdude'.thb party as; an organised force' in tho .community/ They wero-laying the foundation'of militant Socialism. in the Dominion, a fo'reo that would show tlie people how best to Use" their -country for ..the' benefit of'the people at large: ' The; election of ft provisional National Exe-cutive-was then; proceeded with. ■ Comrade Lamer, organising'secretary-for the Wellington Branch; was-unanimously '.chosen secretary of tho'executive. . Other, members elected - '.were:—Comrades Jainicsou .-(Cliri'st•ehurch), Halbort (Nolson), Clay (Wellington), ,i ackson (lnglewpod),' Glynn (Blackball), Ecr6yd (Christ..church). , ' 'The question of a national platform was postponed till to-day's- to give delegates an opportunity of studying the various points. The'remainder of the sitting was dcvpted tp matters pf detail affecting the constitution generally, r At-o p.m. an adjournment was made till to-day, at 2 p.m. Another sitting has" also been appointed for tho evening.