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Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1929, Page 4

The annual conference of the British Labour Party at Home, held recently, was interesting because of the Presidential address from Mr Herbert Morrison the satisfaction that he feels at Transport in the Labour Government, his opinions may be taken as representing accurately enough the views of Mr MacDonald and his colleagues, and this fact gives a special interest in his remarks. No one can grudge Mr Morriso nthe satisfaction that he feels at the remarkably rapid progress of the Labour Party and the political strength that it has now attained. Nor is any unprejudiced critic likely to deny the claims mat he has put forward in regard to Labour’s recent successes in the sphere of foreign affairs. Even though we entertain, as a contemporary says, some reasonable doubts about the treaty with Egypt, which Mr Morrison rates so highly, we must admit that the vigorous and courageous policy by Mr MacDonald, Mr Snowden and Mr Henderson well deserve the oanerrvrie pronounced upon it by the ' President of the Labour Conference. I But when Mr Morrison come to deal • with the domestic policy of the Labour Government it was evident that he was moving warily, and that he enore his words with care. As regards the condition of some of Britain’s staple industries, which, as Air Morrison says, have “undoubtedly lagged seriously behind their foreign rivals,” the investigations already initiated by the Labour Government should produce beneficial results if a constructive policy is based upon them. I3ut as to tlio main features of the Government pro-

gramme, all that Mr Morrison ventured to say was that he and his colleagues are “engaged in translating into legislative and administrative detail’’ the measures of industrial and social reorganisation to which they are pledged in the interests of the whole community. This is certainly vague, and ->j.r Morrison evidently felt it desirable to offer some sort of apology fr his lack of precision. The Government, he reminded his hearers, is “handicapped by its minority position,” and it can do nothing if the Opposition forces combine ■ against it. Clearly Mr Morrison bears .in mind Mr Lloyd George’s warning that as. soon as juabonr becomes aggressively “socialistic” it can count on Liberal hostility and its tenure of office will cease. No doubt Air Morrison’s attitude is for the time the only safe one. But we have yet to discover if Minister’s can induce the multitudes of workel's who have made “socialism in our time” their slogan to accept the slow and cautious rate of progress which present conditions seem to impose upon tnem.