LABOUR'S BOND.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1412, 12 April 1912, Page 5

LABOUR'S BOND.

THE WORD "PLEDGE" DROPPED.

The nature of the pledge which the Labour party exacts lroin its candidates for election to Parliament has at nil times been a fruitful source cf discussion. It is an open secret that one of the most difficult tasks which (he Unity Labour Conference had to face was that of formulating a pledge likely to prove 'jreiiernlly acceptable. The expedient finally adopted »';is thai of dropping the word "pledge" altogether, and drawing up the following "conditions of membership," to which all meml>ers of the parly, whether lliey intend to become Parliamentary candid'ales or not, will be required to sub-, scribe :—

"I hereby acknowledge myself a member, and agree to accept and loyally adhere to the principle-;, rules, constitution, objective, anil platform of

thi! Cnitod Labour Party of New Zealand, and to record my vote for the

selected Labour candidate'of the parly at every election; and, if elected as

the party's candidate at. any election, T agree" to do my utmost to carry out the principles embodied in the party's platform, and on all questions affecting tho platform and policy of the pnrty or affecting tho fnto of n Government, vote as a majority of the members elected as representatives of Iho party may decide at a duly constituted caucus meeting." The Labour party pledge which, is now superseded is printed below for purposes of comparison. It was adopted at the Labour Party Conference held at Auckland in July, 1910, and runs as follows:—

"I hereby pledge mvself not to oppose the candidate .selected by the recognised branch of the New Zealand Labour party, and, if elected, to do my utmost to carry out the nrinoiplcs embodied in the NewZealand Labour unity's platform, and on all questions affecting the platform to vote as a majority of the Parliamentary party may decide at a duly constituted caucus meeting. I further pledge myself not to retire from the contest without the consent of the branch of the New Zealand Labour party controlling the election."

The new pledge, or condition of membership, it may be noted, will anpavenllv prevent a recurrence nf the situation which •arose in connection with the voting of the 1 nboiir members in the 'ini:oi'tanf no-con-fidence division in the New Zealand Parliament (luring the recent short session.