THE LABOUR PARTY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1411, 11 April 1912, Page 7

THE LABOUR PARTY.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE, ITS POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS. Delegates f,. om of lll(> \-,nv Zealand Labour parly met in conference yesterday. The president (Mr. W. 11. Hampton) was in the (.-hair. ( The report presented In- the National Administrative Council for presentation to (he council was adopted. I lie conference went into committee to ™ss thK hjh which «as adopted. W„W f' hain ; ii |!'.l'ead Ihe Idler from the 1 dea. -moi Drivers' I'uions, .-lating lhal sf , 1 , 1,t , , lh(> '•"'''''''''•nee, and had inducted delegates to < mm t ~ .|!-houi-' »?# as. a plank in tin- party plalionn. I "e eliairm-.v.i slated that |, 0 v . ; is -dad l? re. cel ye the letter. Previously no out- »«'-. liuiiisinal organisations had been h, the party. The aelion of he Drivers .1 ...deration showed that the Help was running in Ihe right direction —tho direction in which Professor .Mills had pointed in his unity campaign. J here was a long discussion hi camera ° ( n , il letter from the National Peace and Anti-Military Council. The matter was eventually referral to a sub-committee to act in conjunction with a delegation .from the trades Council Conference and to report at a later period. -Mr. D. M'Laren moved: "That the Labour municipal charter of principles in ourconstitution he recommended to the I.inly Conference for inclusion in the constitution of the I'nilcd Labour parlv." the motion was carried. Mr. D. M'Laren moved: "No member pf .the party shall go to the election ballot who has not been a member of the party for at least three months f,„. local elections, and twelve months for Parliamentary elections." In tho coin-so of subsequent discussion, it was apparent that Ihe object of the motion was to prevent adventurers from joining the Labour party for the purpose of getting into Parliament or info politics. Some delegates thought that some such ' precaution was necessary to protect the party from the stranger with the glib tongue who could pack a meeting and secure nomination in I he Labour interest. The other opinion was that the party was amply Safeguarded at present against Ihe operations of adventurers or ringsters by the provision requiring candidates to be nominated by a vole of his branch of the party. Mr. .T. V. Smith moved an amendment to delete ail the words after "three months." This amendment was carried by 11 voles to nine. Mr. D, M'Laren moved the following Wellington rom.il:—"ln all Parliamentary elk-lions, branches shall call for nominations of candidates to contest seats in their electorates, and shall submit the names of those, nominated to the National Administrative Council, which' body shall immediately forward its recommendation regarding the same. This shall apply where Ihe selection is made a district council.'''

An amendment, to substitute "may" for "shall" in reference lo the making ;.f a report by the National Kxi-eulive was proposed, but the 'amendment was lost. A further amendment lo adjourn consideration of the proposal until the delegates had in their hands .Ihe uniting scheme, which provided fur -the same matter, was also lost. Tho motion, on being put, was lost on the voices. Mr. D. M'i.arei), for Wellington, moved:—"The National Administrative Council, shall from lime lo time advise the several branches with respect lo the selections of candidate's in (he general interests of the party as a whole." After a long discussion, which wa= rendered necessary by an incomplete understanding of Professor Mills's unity scheme, he explained- it at some length. Wljen he had done so the worels "National Administrative Council" were deleted, and the wards "National Executive of the United Labour party" were substituted for llioni. There was further disciissiou-ns 1 ' tb-'w-helher- the executive should have' this power. Some made the objection that uniler the unity scheme the members of the executive must of necessity be paid officers of their several affiliated organisations—this because (heir duties would'be too serious to be d-rne in spare lime. It was argued that these organisers might arrogate to themselves too much authority, and that the placing of so much power in the hands of a, fewmight lead to backstairs influence—quiet trips by candidates to Wellington for interviews and tho like. All these objections were over-ruled, and the motion was carried. The following remit came from Marton branch:— "That a Bill bo promoted in Parliament, having fur its object a direction to the Arbitration Court, to make inquiry and an award relating to the minimum wages and conditions of employment of farm workers." The Marton delegate had had to leave the conference, and he could not support: his remit. On the motion of Mr. M'Laren it was agreed:—"Thai, this party conference intimate to Marlon branch that it endorses the principle of their remit." The following was recommended for consideration by the Unity Conference:— "That a public defender be appointed by the State as well as a public prosecutor." Some discussion was raised by the Wellington remit: "That the party shall not hold itself responsible for any matter ap- i pouring in the' pros relating to the parly's policy or actions unless Ihe .same

has been' duly authorised and signed by a responsible officer of (he parly." The mover, Mr. M'Laren, said the object of the motion was to prevent Hie party from being niaele responsible' for statements made by people wlio might be designated Labour leaders, but who were not really,'accredited agents of the Labour party. Another delegate, thought "That this kind of statement ought to be suppressed in these Tory papers." The motion was carried. Mr. H. Fairelough (lnvercargill) moved: "That this conference provide for a uniform rate of 'subscription throughout the Dominion, also that tho capita fund to both the United Labour Party and the Now • Zealanel Labour Parly be considered." The remit was carried. Mr. Hunter moved, on behalf of Christ-

church South-.—"That the Government be urged to abolish the Grand Jury." The mover considered the Grand Jurywas not protection to.an innocent, person, but it very often enabled a guilty person, if he was influential, to -go' scot free. Tho motion was carried. The advisability of a "white New Zealand' 1 was affirmed. Mr. L\ .1. Carey moved:—"That provision be made for a legislative weekly day of rest,.and a compulsory Saturday hali'holiday in six-dii.v-a-ivpok industries." This was carried. The conference adjourned till 0..'10 a.m. to-day. when the unity constitution' will be considered.