A SNARE FOR THE LABOUR. SOCIALISTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1752, 17 May 1913, Page 4

A SNARE FOR THE LABOUR. SOCIALISTS.

The coming Labour-Socialist Conference, out of which is to spring the new political organisation, the Social Democrats, apparently, is regarded by some of the "Liberal" remnant as the one gleam of hope on a dark and depressing horizon. It seems that, fiijding tho task of rehabilitating themselves in popular favour, too heavy an undertaking to be seriously contemplated, they have concentrated the whole of their energies on the task of persuading the "lied Feds." and their friends (h.it (he new Labour movement cannot sttccced without the aid of a discredited Wardism._ _ It ia indeed a cheerful and inspiring outlook for the Labour-Socialists. And what a delightful prospect, too, for those who have honestly supported the fortunes of misled by it line party name. An alliance with the Socialists should about fill their cup to overflowing. A good deal of wire-pulling seems to bo going 011 with a view to inducing a section of (he Labour party to support an alliance with the Opposition. It is quite possible that there are amongst the delegates to be appointed to attend the coming Unity Conference some who will be prepared to advocate a fusion of forces. This will mean the introduction of yet another clement of discord into the Conference proceedings. _ Already there are signs that thero is a laclc oi unanimity in Labour-Socialist circles concerning the proposed constitution of the new party, and this will certainly be accentuated if the question is raised of Labour again sacrificing its ambitions and placing itself once more under tho influence of tho party which in the past has found it a useful tool with which to further ita own ends. In Australia the Labour party experimented in alliances with unhappy results. It was not until it broke free of all entanglements that it really attained to that power which lias for years past given the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia into-its hands. ILs greatest succcsecs were achieved as a party which had the courage to shape its own course, regardless of the lures and indifferent to tho attacks of all other parties. The. Labour-Socialists in New Zealand have never had the courage to follow the example of their "fellow-unionists in Australia. They have shown spurts of independence, but these have never been long maintained, and tho ground they have won from time to time by their courage and adherence to principle has been lost by subsequent weakness and alliances which have benefited others at the expense of Labour's cause. At the present moment the Labour-Socialists are swayed by a wave of fedin« which, properly di-' reeled, seems likely to weld (hem _ together :in«l make them ■[ |iulilie.il bower to be reckoned with. They ,

will have to move warily, however, if they are to escape the snarea which arc being set for them.