LABOUR CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1918, Page 1

LABOUR CONFERENCE.

fAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] LONDON, June 27. A Conference of the British Labour Party has opened, under the Presidency of IV. F. Purdy. The foreign delegates include Air. Bran ting, Albert Thomas, Yandervelde. Huysnians. MV Purdv urged the desirability of allying the industrial wing of the labour movement to the political wing, but tln-v must not forget that all plans of reconstruction and hopes of rebuilding a bettor social and industrial life after the war, depended on the cardinal Tact of winning the war. Labour, the world over, had everything to gain .by crushing the domination of militarism. The Russian and Roumanian peace terms showed what terms the Central Empire’s would impose if victorious. We could not, and would not accept such terms.

) LABOUR'S RESOLD. LONDON, Juno. 20. Tho Labour Conference by 1,701,000 to 951,000 votes resolved to dissolve the political truce. Mr Purdy added that the war aims of the trade unions and tho Labour movement represent what we a r e f’ghting for, not for what we are nog >Vuting for. In order to secure these aims, national unity is essential and national necessities must be made in th * measure of mutual loyalty in face of common dangers. Hon. H. Henderson said that when Lloyd George’s Government came into office the Labour Party* was asked to sign a fresh truce, but refused therefore no truce existed with the. pet sent Government. Tie would not?'be. a party to changing the Govornment'.luriug the war. If the Executive felt that the time had come to withdraw its Members from the Government, it should boldly be faced by the Conference with such a resolution.

Received, this day at- H 4o a.m. LONDON. .Jim** ?7

At tin* Labour Conference, Mr jSmillie, in a vehement speech that wu- loudly cheered, declared the vast majority of tho delegates were amazed at Mr Henderson's statement that there mid been no truce for two years. It was easy to get a better Government- than the present, and they could not possibly get. a worse. The country is as sick of the truce as jt is sick of the Government, Williams (Transport Workers Union) said if the adoption of the resolution meant the withdrawn! of the Labourites from Government so much the better. Miss Sylvia Pnnklmrst, on behalf ol the British Socialist Party, in a violent speech, moved demanding that Labourites withdraw from the Government.. There was no seconder.

Mr Barnes, voicing [he opinion of the Moderates, said the resolution would weaken the nation's effort during one of the greatest crisis of history. The motion would be taken by Government as a declaration of war. He was in the Cabinet, as the representative of the Labour Party, which more than once had confirmed that lie should stop in the Government, until Labour in a similar manner said otherwise. Mr Clynes. who -had «'i enthusiastic reception, challenged the supporters of the resolution to test their opinions by an election. Personally ho was prepared to resign and meet them. The general opinion is that the resolution is not intended for the withdrawal of Labourites from Government, though it may embarrass them. It is only intended to mean that tlie* Labour Party proposes to hold itself free to contest elections against coalition candidates, so that Labour Ministers will have to keep silent over such elections.

KERENSKY'S RECEPTION

LONDON. June 26

Kerensky received a Haltering inception, which, he said, lie appreciated as an expression of sympathy with Russian democracy, who were fighting tor ideal l (omnum to them.

All his duty as a statesman and •Socialist was to toll tlie Coiferetio-* and the people of the whole world that the Russian people and Russian t ■ niocracy were lighting against fyru’.ny.

Kerensky concluded by saying: “You may break the Russian people, but you cannot exterminate them. Ta .a certain that the Russian people wiU shortly join you "in light ing for the great cause of freedom.” Disorder -and interruption followed, in the course of wli’V-h a delegate who objected to the presence of Kerensky, was expelled. Kerensky has been invited to address the Labour Conference at great length to-morrow.