LABOUR CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 241, 5 July 1919, Page 9

LABOUR CONFERENCE

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS

REMITS BEFORE DELEGATES

The annual conference of the New Zoalajid Labour Party was continued at the Trades Hall yesterday The president, the Hon. J. T." Paul, M.'L.C, was hi the chair.

I Mr.' H. Holland. M.P., presented the report of a committee set up to consider the 'peace terms. This, report is summarised- in another column. Tho following remit, presented by the Wellington Social Democratic Parly, was adopted, with a resprvatiou Unit it should not take effect until after the next general election:—"That the selection of a Parliamentary candidate be thrown open to the membership of the affiliated bodies of L.R.C.'s in the district." The following remit was moved by the ■Wellington North branch:-"Rfj-refuta-tion at tha annual conference shall be' Organisations affiliated to the New Zealand Labour Party, up to 100 members, one delegate; 100 to 300..tw0 delegates; over 300, three delegates; , L.K.C.'s, two delegates." This proposal was adopted by a ?mail majority after a. prolonged discussion. A proposal that, enrolment and voting at elections should be made compulsory was brought forward by the Wellington Central branch. An amendment was moved to confine the compulsion to enrolment. After discussion both motion and amendment were withdrawn, and the conference.adopted the following remit from the Brooklyn branch :-"That this conference regards the present haphazard way of enrolling electors as extremely unsatisfactory, and urges the Government to take action in the direction of lrjving this important work entirely carrier out by the State s and local bodies." A committee reported regarding the appointment of a- permanent secretary with a central office, and suggested, means whereby the necessary funds might be obtaine'd. The appointment of a i alional secroiiary was held over until to-day. After remits relating to .the land question had been considered, the conference set up a committee to' draft n platform for the party on the- land question. The conference adopted the following remit, presented by the Wellington Social Democratic Party; "That the Education . Denartment be urged to take immediate steps to establish special schools for: (a) Mentally deficient children; (b) for those who, from any cause, are temporarily delicate and backward for their age and so uafjt to benefit by tho instruction given normal children in the public schools." The conference affirmed the principle of the five days' working week of forty hours. Several remits relating to conscription and the war regulations were referred to a committee. ' It was decided that the attention of the Government should be drawn totho unsatisfactory manner in which the ecnool committee elections were carried out, and a demand ruado that they should be carried out at least under a similar system, to other elections of public bodies. The conference considered a remit relating to immigration and tefcrred it to a committee for. report. A proposal that "workmen's and soldiers' councils be formed throughout Now Zealand to deal with tho problem of repatriation" was not approved by tho conference. ~.-,, i •V remit proposing that in tho event of the Labour Party being rtturncd to power, all war loans should be repudiated, lapsed for want of a seconder. Tho Manawatu PlaxmiUciV Union forwarded a remit proposing that m.the platform of- the party tho words the right to live" should bo substituted tor "tho right to work." This remit was not adopted. . The conference adjourned until tins morning.

WANGANUI BRANCH.

By Tclccraph.-PreßS Association. Wanganui, July 4. A meeting of tlio ■ Wanganui branch of the New Zealand Labour Party pansKl a resolution protesting against the threats by Mr. Field, Ul\. and asking what measures are being taken to bring him to justice' The meeting supported a resolution by tlio v-atorsidcrs demanding tlio repeal' of tlio War Regulations and tlio release of all conscientious objectors. .A resolution was carried emphatically protesting against youths of 18 years being subjected to a. period of four months of military training cfc.rips.