THE INFLUENCE OF MINISTERS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 94, 7 May 1937, Page 11

THE INFLUENCE OF MINISTERS

-Own CSorreanondent.)

Labour Conference Unduly Swayed VOTE-CATCHING

Bs Telepranh-

AUCKLAND, Last Night. The belief that the Easter conferenc.n of the New Zealand Labour Party was unduly swayed by Cabinet Ministers, and that the view had been strengthened that gains by unions must be niade through the industrial side of the Labour moveoient, is expressed in an article in the latest issue of ihe Borer, the ofiicial organ of the Auckland Carpenters' and Joiners' Union. "There is'no doubt that the party leaders wero actuated at all times by the imminent presence of. nest year's election, and every result had been weighed in the balance to see what- possible jsffect it might have on tho question of votes," it is stated "It is our. opinion more than- ever that our gains must be made through the industrial side of the movement. Wo believe that the conference was unduly swayed by the Cabinet Ministers, and that if.it was an epitomisation of the working of democracy, well, there is certainly room for considerable imprdveinent in democracy," reads the article. "Generally speaking, there was very little interruption in the* smooth working of the party machine., Once or twice, and even from the platform itself, there was a regretta'ble lapse from the tenets of oratory and a descent to ignoble personalities, which should have been more firinly checked by the chairman, and once or twice there was wbat .seemed to us a rather definite tendeney to pillory a militant cninority. "We believe that most delegates should be definitely instructed as to the way they should vote at a conference of this sort, and, furthermore, when they are in the conference hall they sbould vote as they are instructed. . . TheSfe is no doubt that the party Jeaders were actuated at all times by the imminent -presence of next year's election, and every romit" had been weighed in ' the balance to see what possible effeet. it might have on the question of votes. In our opinion, in fact, very much so. As it is never possible to please everybody, and after all we have at present a workers ' Government pledged to work iu favour of our class, it is quite obvious that if something is given'to an employoe it cnust be taken from the employer — and we think that we have a right to expect that to be done. There can be no attompt to satisfy both sides."