"SOCIALISATION."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 873, 20 July 1910, Page 7

"SOCIALISATION."

I —— THE LABOUR CONFERENCE. "GREATEST BOMB EVER DROPPED' IN LABOUR RANKS." AN ANIMATED DEBATE. (J)y .Telegraph—Press Association.) Auckland, July 19.. The name finally chosen for the new Labour party is "The New Zealand Labour party." The first matter in the platform discussed at to-day's sitting was the objective with the following paragraph under .tho heading "Land": — "To enable as may be determined by Parliament the full use and occupation/of all lands (unused European and Native lands included) based upon comparatively small holdings, long leasehold,. reasonable rental, renewable tenure, and the tenants right to improvements." As an amendment Mr. Howaid moved, and it 'was agreed, to delete this paragraph and substitute the following paragraph under the heading "General":— "To maintain ,upon our' Statute Books all the progressive legislation that has already been enacted and to insist upon its sympathetic and proper administration, to enact comprehensive measures and establish such conditions as- will foster and ensure equality of opportunity, also the moral, material, .and educational advancement and the general comfort and well-being of the whole people, based upon the gradual public owner-.' ship of ail the means of production distribution and exchange." Mr. Horning (Auckland) gave notice of his intention to move in the direction of supporting the "Socialisation" of the means of production, distribution, and oxchange." The. Hon. 'J. T. Paul (Dunedin) said tho majority of those for whom this was intended would not understand it, and when it came to be understood he was afraid it would be too late. The damage this was going to do to tho Labour" party was incalculable. •■ He pointed out the wide difference between "nationalisation"- and "socialisation." Nationalisation was a concrete possibility, and might be applied to monopolies such as the coal and thu sugar monopolies in Auckland, and so bring about relief. This was not so with socialisation, which practically meant confiscation. If the conference adopted this amendment it would cause disunion, and . would bo the greatest bomb that had ever been dropped in the labour ranks. Mr. Horning formally moved that the word "socialisation" be substituted for "public ownership" in connection with the "means of production, distribution, and exchange," as mentioned in the latter part of the amendment moved by Mr. Howard, and adopted by the conference. , . ; The discussion then turned straight out on the merits and demerits of the type suggested in the word. "socialisation," and the advisability of,- the Labour party (as represented at the' conference) coming under that banner.' , Mr. Carey (Wellington) said Socialism meant confiscation. A Member: ; Nonsense. Mr. Paul:' They say 'so. Mr. Carey urged that the extreme Socialists' ideal was too i evolutionary. They should first educate people to a better recognition of what they were ohtitled to for their work. Sir. Sullivan (Canterbury) pointed out that the 'differences between the delegates was not as between Socialists nnd Labour, but between and '■Socialists. *'~ T, ' Mr. Paul said they were delegates with instructions to try and .devise something that the great'mass of the workers and progressive people could 'rally round. It was not their business to set up a standard round which it was impossible for the mass of their ' people to rally ■ because they had too much horse sense. The mass of the workers had more sense than those in some Socialistic circles gave them credit for. \ l)id they think the workers were going to sanction the overturning of everything? Borne Socialists would not be satisfied till they had introduced the propaganda of the LAV.W. This meant general strikes, by which they dreamed of a position whore they would be able to control the manufacturing interests of tho country. The propaganda of -the I.W.W- was revolutionary, and did not contain any provision for political action! Mr. Howard said tho Socialists wanted the earth, but ho for one. did not advocate the I.W.W. propaganda or general strikes. . They were all Socialists, or said they were, and he could, not understand a Socialist objecting to "socialisation." ■ . ■■' Mr. Noot (Wellington) said he too wanted to get to the heaven they were all aiming at as'workers, but he wanted to gel there a step at a time. .-. •" ■ Alter some more discussion the Auckland delegate's amendment was thrown out by 12 votes to 4, those voting against being: Messrs. Walsh, Carey, Soot, Muir, Howard, Long, Reader,' Breen, Paul, Q'Bryne, Alsweiler, and Young. Those in favour were: Messrs. Horning, Savage, Moxsom, and Hutchison. Some of the delegates were doubtful about' the effect of the new platform. Some thought. 'A tvas to bo for tho guidance of an entirel.i hoiv Labour parly, whilo others imderstood that it was to tak» the pkict of the constitution of the -Trades and. Labour Conference. .. ' . . The.chairman (Mr. G. R. Whiting) ruled that the new platform would take the place of all the matter in tho book oi ttie constitution of the conference. A small special committee was set up to go through the platform and re-, port to the conference at a later date.