Labor Party Conference.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1921, Page 3

Labor Party Conference.

|HY TEEEURAPII PER PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, July M. The fiftli annual conference of the Now (Zealand (Labour "Party opened here. There was an attendance of about 50 delegates from all parts of the Dominion. Mr P. Fraser M.P. (President of the party), who occupied the chair, said the greatest tribute the party could receive was the determined opposition of the enemies of Labour to -vVuch it was subjected at the present time. He welcomed the number of leagues which lived and throve on their opposition to the working class movement. The more such bodies, with their hidden sources of revenue, attacked the Labour Party, the better would the principles of Labour ho understood and appreciated by intelligent people. .At the recent municipal election, the whole of the reserves of the reactionary forces were turned out to defeat the Labour Party and the Labour vote had greatincreased. Mr Fraser went on to say that at the present time the party was confronted hv many serious social and economic questions, a solution of which must L formulated in accordance with the work-

ing class principle. He made extended reference to the questions of housing land unemployment, and said the Gabon■ I Party would have to devote special ! attention to various measures of social i legislations, such as public health, Staf- | medical service and free hospital tr' 1 "' I ment. Tn the matter of education it- ' was gratifying that the Minister : (rone some distance in the direction of

the Party’s proposal to nrovide school hooks free to pupils. Mr Fraser spoke of the need for increasing widows’ pensions, and the necessity for a just distribution of wealth. He said the Labour Party stood against methods of

force .11101 violence for the achievement !of their objects—the Socialisation of i the means of production distribution i and exchange. The party adhered wholi ly to legal constitutional methods of political action, including the contesting of Parliamentary, municipal and local body elections. The methods of the Labour Party were political, hut tho means to be adopted in achieving the party’s aims were for the members ! themselves to decide, with no interference' from outside New Zealand. The methods of advance must he conditioned by the economic and social standing of any country and political principles. In New Zealand it was only possible to bring about Labour’s desired cm! by peaceful methods.

! THE PLATFORM. WELLINGTON, July 15. | The Labour Party’s conference dis- ! cussed its land platform, and decided | to support all forms of agricultural co-operation, and also that the powers iof a municipality should be increased to enable them to run their own milk farms. | In addition, .'the platform, (reads No privately owned land shall be sold [ or transferred except to the State. Education matters were discussed lengthily, and the conference decided in favour of all children remaining at primary schools until attaining the age of l(j years. Another motion urges I the establishment of free night schools I for persons over 10 years of age. i The School Journal was discussed and the conference protested emphaticj ally against the teaching of imperial- ! istic and militaristic ideas and the

inculcation of racial antipathy and hatred. The Journal should he used to teach ethics, healthy home life and good citizenship. In addition the education platform 'include provisions fod free medical attention to children, free and universal school hooks and the teaching of esperanto as an auxiliary language. A ballot for the national executive resulted in ' the election of P. Fraser, M.P., T. Brindle, F. Cornwall. Mrs Snow and Mrs Ford. - .in —— in iim —ati—r f