N.Z. LABOUR PARTY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 456, 11 March 1919, Page 2

N.Z. LABOUR PARTY.

Pukekohe Branch Formed. With the object of stimulating interest iu the efforts of the N.Z. Labour Party to secure increased representation in Parliament an open-air meeting was held in Hall • treet, Pukekohe, last Friday evening. As it happened, a similar demonstration had been convened for the same evening in support of the Prohibition movement, but thanks to the courtesy of the Rev. J. F Martin, who was the speaker on behalf of the N.Z. Alliance, it was arranged that rather than rivalry for the attention of the public should ensue there would be an interval in the Prohibition gathering to a'low of the cause of tin Labour party being advocated Mr J. M. Savage, Secretary of tin Auckland Representation Committee, accordingly took "the box" when the Rev. Martin temporaoily retired, and he explained that the aims of Labour party was to secure democratic rule. He stated that the Libour party's platform was remodelled from time to time according to existing coneitions, and that their desire was to co-operate with the farming community, to which end their policy would be re-framed. The party, he said, to which he belonged was not an extremist organisation, and they were not " Red Feds." They came forward as servants of the public, and it would be for the public to define the policy on which their representatives in Parliament would act. They aimed at giving the people of the Dominion a square deal, so that rather than unpopular legislation should be forced on them a referendum should be taken on any important measure promoted in Parliament He explained that it was intended to establish branches of the Labour party throughout the electorate, the members then to signify by ballot thsir choice of a candidate for the electorate. He appealed for support to the Labour canse, and expressed the opinion that there was every probability of their nominee winning the seat' even against Mr M-assey, the present Member. At the close of Mr Savage's address, an adjournment was mide to the Masonic Hall, where there was an assembly of about 20. It was decided to form a local branch of the Lib ur party, and all those present gave iu thair names as members, a Provisional Executive being Bftt8 ft t up A general meeting of the new'yf rtned branch, at which supporters are asked to attend, is to be held in the Masonic Hall next Thursday evening.