LABOUR CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2819, 10 July 1916, Page 8

LABOUR CONFERENCE

NEW ZEALAND LABOUR PARTY

. The joiut conference of the United Federation or Labour, Social Democratic Party >-and Labour Eepresentation Committees resumed on' baturday, Mr. J. Don-gray presiding. Consideration of the constihjtipu and platform for consolidating the■■ interests of the workers, as submitted by . the committee set up for that purpose, was proceeded with. Tile following decisions were arrived at:— Name—The New Zealand Labour l'artv. Constitution—The New Zealand Labour Party shall consist of Labour liepreseiltatioir Committees;. the Labour liepresentation Committees shall consist, of industrial federation of unions, trades and labour councils, district, council, Social Democratic Party branches, and other properly constituted, progressive organisations which susbcribc to,the constitution and platform of the party. Representation on the Labour Eepresentation Committee shall be based on the numerical strength of each of the affiliated bodies, on, such basis as is deemed advisable by the local organisations. ; ' -

Affiliated organisations shall- .make a contribution of not less than 3d.- per year per member to 1 the Labour Kepresent&tion Comjnittee, lid. per member per year to be transmitted by the Labour liepreseutation Committee to the National Executive. The executive shall consist of a president, vice-presidents, secretarytreasurer,. and a committee of twelve, with power to add; the first executive shall be elected by the joint conference of representatives of the U.F.L., S.D.P., and L'.K.C.-, The executive shall convene a conference of.'the New Zealand Labour Party in Wellington during, the month of July, 1917. • '. shall be the duty of the National Executive to take such action as is deemed iiecessary to organise the workers into Labour '.Representation Committees, l'or political, action. : Each committee shall have fiijl power to formulate ■its'own municipal ..platform, subject to the. approval of the National Executive, also such machinery as is necessary for the selection and running of political and municipal candidates. No , person shall. be eligible for 'endorsement as a candidate of the New Zealand Labour Tarty who has not been a bona-fide member of. an affiliated body for six months prior to the date ,of nomination. The objective ;of . tlio party is the socialisation of tho means of production, distribution, and exchange. ! The platform is as under:—Electoral— Proportional ■ representation, the initiative, the referendum, the recall, the abolition of the country quota, full civil rights to all public employees; the re-' moval of the political disabilities of women. Land—All existing-Crown lands to be added to the national endowment. Tenants'absolute right to improvements. State control—State Bank, ' with the sole right of note issue f State-owned shipping service; State control of all branches of industry';" development of our present State coal mines, factories, farms, and industrial services. Education—Free, secular, and compulsory education from the kindergarten to tho university. Taxation—lncreased taxation on unearned incomes and monopoly for the j purpose of removing the present burdens on family incomes; increased taxation of unimproved land values; increased graduated income taxi with a corresponding reduction of indirect taxation.' Extension of the pension system to cover all incapacitated citizens, and increased rates of pensions. Industrial—The right to work; the full recognition of unionism on the basis of 4J«bitration in industrial law, and the consequent membership of all workers engaged in the various industries. ikfcnce—A citizen army on a volunteer basis, with standard wages while on duty, together with practical measures for the promotiou of peace, and the repeal of the present -Military Service Bili. The following officers of the. New Zealand Labour Party were elected-.—Presi-dent, Mr. J. M'Combs, M.P.; vice-presi-dent, 111'. J. M'Kenzie; secretarytreasurer, Mr. J. Glover; committee, the Hon. ,T. T., Paul. Messrs. K. Semple,. P. Eraser, I). W. Coleman, G. Ross, C. W. Webber, A. M'Curthy, B. Martin, H. E. Holland. W. Parry, Mrs. .]. M'Combs, and Mrs. Snow. The joint conference then terminated, and the United Federation of Labour's Conference resumed, and ratified the constitution and platform adopted by the joint conference with the Social Democratic Party and Labour Representation Committees. The conference closed with a hearty vote of thanks to the. chairman.