The Dominion. FRIDAY, MAY 22, 1914. SIGNS OF DISRUPTION

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2155, 22 May 1914, Page 6

The Dominion. FRIDAY, MAY 22, 1914. SIGNS OF DISRUPTION

The internal affairs of the New South Wales Labour Party are not at present in a very satisfactory state from tlw Ministerial point of view, and signs of disintegration are not wanting. Outsiders are, no doubt, liable to over-estimate .the gravity of the situation, biifc that a good deal oi friction and discontent exists cannot be denied. A week or two ago the newspapers gave considerable prominence to a sharp conflict between the Premier (Ma. Hoi,jian) and a section of the Caucus regarding the ] proposed appointments to the Legislative Council. The Can* cus and the Political Labour League arc inclined to push their claims" to control the Government to the utmost limit. They contend that Ministers are their servants, and not the servants of tho country as a 'whole. The League asserts that it is the supremo power—that it has made the Ministry and can unmake it. MR. Hqlman is beginning to see that these far-reaching claims will not fit in with the established system of Parliamentary government, and hfi has b?en compelled to resist them'; but a fight to a finish oji the question seems to have been post'. poiied for the present, and in order to prevent the possibility of disruption a compromise of sorac kind will probably be arranged. With this problem still unsolved Ministers arc now faced with another revolt which may cause a good deal of bitterness and trouble. A section.of the Lnbour Party lias become so dissatisfied with (he existing stale of »flairs that'they have formed a new organisation called tho Trades Union Political Party under- the l?adcrship, so we are informed, of "'determined nwn" ■who are goiug to make another start be*

cause they In've 'conic' to';i!)d;. conchi< sion that they '."have been on ~ the wrung track.:'':";. ./' ; ; - The promoters of. the ?nc\y •movement contend that'the voting system at the Political Labour League's conferences is not a fair one, and there arc signs of a split between the town and country sections. One of_ the dissentients points out that societies which have only 20 or 30 members have one delegate, while a union witli ■a membership of HODQ can only have three or four delegates. It is also stated that the financial burden is not fairly adjusted. We are. told that "the union donkey"—that is the big city unions—"has earned the financial burden n. 11 along for the whole State." There seems to he a growing impression that the Labour members of Parliament are expecting a little too much, and that they' ought to pay their expenses out of their salaries. "They get enough salary to enable them to do that," says a union official, "and there is no reason why they should not." It looks as if there is going to be some trouble oyer the fighting funds, for it is said that the Parliamentary representatives are likely to resist the proposal that the.v should contribute 10 per cent, of their salaries, and the proposed levy of one shilling per union member may possibly bo rejected by many of the Labour organisations." There is certainly trouble ahead for the party, and it will require a era-it deal of Ability, judgment, and tact to avoid disaster. Mrs, Holman is a strong man and an able political leader. He may be able to steer clear of the rocks looming darkly in front of him; but it is doubtful if he will succeed in holding together all tho conflicting interests and ideals which are at present marching under the Labour banner.

There is a strong impression among the-rank.and file of thepai'ty that an alien element, consisting of men who are not wage-earners and who arc not in full sympathy with the aims of the industrial classes, has secured to© much influence in directing the affairs of the Labour movement. In' connection with the formation of the new party it has been nreed that none , but wageearnct's lie 'allowed to hold office, The workers of New Zealand hate had experience of the type of man whose object.is to make use of them for his own purposes, his ultimate aim generally being to get into Parliament. He talks glibly about their rights aacl wrongs, and all tho time he has his eye on his own' interests which an his first and last consideration. The same type exists in flfett South, Wales,'and the industrial classes are, beginning to find him out. It has | been stated that the craving for seats in the Legislative Council of that State is taking away the militancy of many union officials, and tine remark was recently made that '"'it is not likely that Labour Council delepates who hope to get into the Upper House will say anything in criticism of the Government when Mil. HoljtAS speaks at the next meeting o! the Council." In New Zealand the Labour Party has suffered at the hands of the "Liberals" here in mtteh, the same way, its leaders Ijb•ing found comfortable billets to the detriment- of Labour and to the advantage ijif the .."Liberals." The complaint isSbcing isade that the New South Wales Government is too much', inclined to retain its "window-dress-: ing," and "is aifrt over-aQxipus to "soil the goods." "There is said to he i a tendency to go slow in order tint ] an attractive programme may be held in reserve for the next election ■ campaign. The genuine worker is beginning to realise that his representatives in Parliament «re strong in theory, hut weak in practice. The complaint has been made that _ the labourers at Canberra have obtained far better tewiis from tho Federal Prime Minister (51R. Cook) than some that had been refused by the : Labour Minister (Mb. . p'3falley) ; and there has been much indignation i recently at tho treatment of employ- j cfis at the Bota.ny State brickworks, i So keenly is the position felt thatone •union official recently declared that! there was a feeling in his union that j for the present no more State undet- J takings should be catered upon in j view of tha way in which the em- > ployees had been treated in connection with those now in existence. All these things go to'show there is it strong undercurrent of discontent |ii the ranks of the New South Wales Labour Party, which must prove extremely embarrassing' to the Government and may lead to fnrther political changes, >