INITIAL FORMATION MEETING.

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

INITIAL FORMATION MEETING.

REPORTS OF SECRET PROCEED- . INGS. tFaOM OUB OWM CORRESPONDENT.) AUCKLAND, July 31. An Auckland reporter possesses the ability to make up co that his own mother wouldn't know him. Certainly, when he walked into the Herald office late last night in the guise of a wharf lumper his i office colleagues didn't recognise his cheru- I bic countenance and wanted to show him ! out without ceremony. He had been at | one of those meetings not open to the press, and this morning tells the following interesting story :—: — " Last night was the date appointed for the holding of the initial meeting in the formation of the New Zealand Labour party, which its zealous founders fondly consider is to be the future power in the country, which is to grab all the land, distribute bank notes ad lib, nationalise the means of production, distribution, and exchange, hurl the " capitalistic " press from its heights, cast into the pit of oblivion the rapacious landlord, and, in fact, turn this fair Dominion upside down, and then it will be '" Arcadia." The meeting was not open to the press, but as the leaders of the proposed party had been very discreet when interviewed as to whether it would embrace Socialism or not a Herald representative, considering that the end justified the means, attended the meeting in suitable disguise, j voting with his fellow, "brothers," " hurraying" for the cause, and groaning at the capitalistic pre«=s. They were a motly collection who gathered — 32 in all. The dreamy Socialist, the man of hard toil, and his fortunate brother, the paid secretary, all were represented, though it was frequently laid down during the meeting that for the "cause" to succeed there must be nothing but love and goodwill. The " green-eyed monster " made his presence felt from the very start, and at intervals recriminations flew thick and fast.. As one present candidly confessed, " We are all in the game to get hold of soft jobs. TVc Ji»-re cot the " capitalistic -' press - here to-night to let the public know, so there's -no barm in saying it." Loud applause was the answer. Mr George Davis. • a prominent Labourite, occupied the chair. A letter from Mr J. K. Kneen, of the Seamen's Union, was read, asking if the new party consisted of all leaders, and whether it was to be run on the lines of previous extinct or moribund bodies under the same generals. A gasp of astonishment went round. " The impertinence of the man," said one delegate. It was then decided to merely receive the letter. As the chairman remarked that he would not be bound by the usual rules relating to the holding of meetings, a subsequent resolution was passed instructing the secretary to reply stating the aims of the ,party. One ov two speakers took thVopportunity of expressing their opinions of Mr Kneen and his union opinions, which were the reverse of flattering. Mr Arthur Ro3s©r now monopolised the meeting, if not its attention, in describing "why I turned from Seddomsm. "You know," said he, "I was a strong supporter of 'Dick' Seddon, but this fellow Ward is running the- country to destruction. . Besides that, " Maasey, though he hasonly got a small following, is virtually the uncrowned king of .the Dominion, and, as"you' know, Ward and Massey will soon be amalgamating, and where will labour be then? No, fellowLabourites, let us kick them all into the j sea and run this country as we like ourselves." A speaker here got up and .said that when they appointed their committee they should appoint men who had actually to work, not a few paid secretaries. Mr j

Rosser was doing all the talk and was wagging his tongue too much. He (the speaker) was really very much in the dark as to what the proposed platform of the party was. If they were going to embrace Socialism they were making a mistake, as it was utterly impracticable for this country for many years to come. Furthermore, there was considerable dissatisfaction in his union and in other unions at the Socialistic tendency of several of- the so-called leaders of the Labour movement, and the time was coming when there would be a great split in the ranks of Labour. He had worked at his trade in the Dominion for 17 years, and at the present time, despite the fact of having to keep paid agitators, who were supposed to look after his interests, and the upkeep of Conciliation and Arbitration Courts, he was getting far less wages in proportion than he did 17 years ago. This speech was the forerunner of a bitter war of words which raged for some minutes, but peace ' eventually reigned again. The " capitalistic " press was the next target at which to hurl the epithet of scorn. " The unemployed meeting the other night was grossly distorted," said one speaker. "If we get into power we will abolish the capitalistic press altogether," said another, and " Hurrah !" shouted the meeting. " Hurrah !" echoed the reporter. The" election of officers was the next business, but before this could be proceeded with there was another wordy war. One section of the meeting wanted the appointments to be for a period of 12 months, the other desiring that it be restricted to three months. The latter section carried the day, and the following officers were then elected : — President, Mr George Davis ; vice-presidents — Messrs L. E. Henry and T. Long; secretary, Mr Arthur Rosser; treasurer, Mr W. Banfield. An assistant secretary and a committee of four were also appointed. There was a body of openly-avowed Socialists present, and they quite plainly intimated their intention of only supporting the proposed party in the event of its adopting their nlatform. It was suggested that the Socialist programme could be adopted on the quiet, and this seemed to greatly tickle the fancy of those present. In attempting to snigger the Herald representative had a narrow escape, his* false moustache nearly coming off. but the incident escaped notice. It was decided to call ihe body " The Auckland Branch of the Labour Party of New Zealand." to form branches in bther centres, and to hold a general conference later in the year. I It was also "decided that the committee ! draw up the party's platform, the same ! to be submitted to a future meeting. ! Nationalisation of the land and a State j bank note-issue were recommended to the committee as two of the planks, and on I the motion of a Socialist member it was resolved by a large majority to also recommend to the committee that the ! objective of the party be the national'saj tion of the means of production, distribution, and exchange. " A scion of the capitalistic press asked me on Wednesday if the meeting would be open to the presfr." said Mr Rosser at the conclusion of the meeting. • "I said 'No.' He then asked if I would supply a report. I said I would supply a bare report if the meeting allowed me. Now, gentlemen, shall we allow this capitalistic press to have a report ? Shall we let them have one, or, by holding a pistol at their heads, refuse to allow them to have it unless they put it in word for word as we give it to them? We dont want the public to know all our objects." "Hurrah!" shouted the meeting, and " Hurrah !" echoed the Herald representative as he left the meeting.