NEW ZEALAND SOCIALIST PARTY.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 58, 19 April 1912, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND SOCIALIST PARTY.

FIFTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

The annual conference of the Socialist Party was held in the Socialist Hall, Manners Street, Wellington, commencing on Easter Sunday morning. The following branches wero represented:—Auckland, M. J. Savage; Huntly, J. E. Duncan; Waihi, E. Dye; Kai angahako, P. 11. llickey; Foilding, E. TuJinicliffe; Palmerston North, Rod. Ross; Wellington, R. Hogg, F. Freeman, and W. Taylor;' M.illorton and Ngakawau, It. Mackenzie; DenniNton, It. S. Ross; Itunanga, J. Glovor and P. C. Webb; Christchurch, E. J. Howard, J. Shrubshall, and G. Spiers; Duiiediii, J. Munro. Tho National Soci-e.tn.ry, F. R. Cooke, and organiser, E. It. Hartley, were also present. Com. E. J. Howard was elected chairman of the conference, and Com. J. I. Fox, of Pahiatua, was chosen as minute- secretary During the course of its deliberations, lasting till Tuesday evening, an cnormouis amount of business was disposed of, Comrade Howard proving himself a first-class chairman. The most important matters discussed were: — The question of a platform, militarism,, attitude towards economic organisations, and organisation. Conference- was waited upon by the organiser of the Nationa] Peace Council, Mr. Mackie, who during tho courso of his address outlined in brief some of tlio objections raised by his organisation against the "Defence" Act. The following further matters were dealt with and adopted: That all matters relative to the drafting of a national platform be deleted, and that the national executive draw up a manifesto in lieu thereof. That the incoming national executive be elected by the conference, but that in future the executive officers be elected by referendum of the members. The appointment of a paid national secretary was agreed to. It- was agreed tthat the New Zealand Socialist Party eo-oporate with the Socialist Federation of Australasia in the sending of an accredited representative to tho next international Socialist, congress, to be held at Vienna in August, 1913. It was decided to appoint a paid organising national secretary for the Dominion, and to procuro the servioes of further prominent Socialist lecturers to tour tJie country and propagate tho principles of Socialism and to extend tho activities of the party throughout the Dominion. Alderman E. R. Hartley gave an account of his experience regarding tho Socialist movement in New Zealand. Ho gave it as his opinion that tlio movement here showed a very healthy vigour, and that by careful and persistent organisation the Socialist party may easily become- the dominant factor in the politics of the Dominion. Tho conference established efficient machinery for the effective forwarding of the party's work in tfhe propaganda and political Holds. Mr. E. J. Howard, of tlio Christchurch Branch, was appointed president, and the secretarial work was left in tho hands of the previous national secretary, Mr. F. It. Cooke, at..> of Christchurch, until tdie appointm '•.:' ■ -f a. paid organising secretary h c> ">:.:kml by a lefcrendum vote of 'i>e. ir-< i 'l OS. Ha'-'ilM: I eiv.-Ti to UtlUcTStatul that the "unity scheme" conference, al-in being '-.'■ I in Wellington, had decided to a.d-ipt the objective of tho Socialist parly as the objectivo of the unity sdieme, it was decided to express the attitude of the New Zealand Socialist party to the unity scheme under such conditions, and the following resolution was adopted : That while eariost-Iy and urgently desiring the unity of the workers of New Zealand, this confer-

I ence is of opinion that such unity can only be effected and effective if based upon the revolutionary Marxian conception of the class struggle, with tho Socialist objective clearly avowed, and the name, procedure and principles of the In. tornatioual Socialist movement adopted. Tho conference concluded its proceedings with the singing of the Socialist song "Tho Rod Flag," and giving three cheers for the social revolution aa a wind-up. The Executive for the ensuing year is:—President, E. J. Howard; treasurer, J. Shrubshall; secretary, F. R. Cooke; Comrades Savage, Dye, Freeman, Munro, and It. S. Ross.