NEW ZEALAND LABOUR PARTY

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 11 August 1909, Page 11

NEW ZEALAND LABOUR PARTY

INITIAL STEPS TAKEN. AUCKLAND, July 28. A circular has been forwarded by MiArthur Roeser to all members of local trades unions stating that, as the result ot a resolution carried at Mr Hogg's recent meeting in Auckland considering it advisable to form a Labour party in New Zealand politics, it was deemed necessary to at once give effect to the resolution and to form a council in Auckland of a strong New Zealand Labour party, having in its- platform as two main planks land reform and the currency question. The circular goes on to say that, while taking in s.& members all workers who would subscribe to its platform, it had been decided to build up this new party from the trades unions similar to what had been done "by the Labour party in Australia, and with this end in view a I meeting would be held shortly to formally institute the Auckland Branch of the party. A prominent. Labour leader informed a Herald representative to-day that such was the discontent in the country ,againet the present Government that the proposed new party should meet with instantaneous success at the coming polk. The nationalisation of the land and a State bank note issue would be the two principal planks in the Labour platform. Mr Hogg was to stump the Dominion on behalf of the new party, . and he would be followed from time to time by other organisers. fuly 30. At a labour meeting held to-night it was decided to form a New Zealand Labour party having for its main planks land nationalisation and a State note issue. A motion was carried recommending the executive to include as one of the planks of the platform the nationalisation of the means of production, distribution, and exchange, the Socialist party having intimated that it would not join forces unless this were done.