THE LABOUR CAMPAIGN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8089, 20 April 1906, Page 4

THE LABOUR CAMPAIGN.

Tlie success of Labour in the General Election naturally forms ;i prominent feature ol' tho annual report of tho annual report of tho Labour Representation Committee. Signed by Air. A. Henderson, JI.R, a» chairman, Air. Keir Hardie, M.P., and other member?, tho report refers to tho work oi the committee sinco its constitution in 1900, and says:— "Tho six. years of organisation, of propaganda, of preparation, have not been wasted. The Labour party, which had hut four members m tho outgoing Parliamant, put fifty candidates into the field, and comes back to the House of Commons with twenty-nine elected members. Suddenly politicians of all parties realise that a new factor in politics has appeared; that organised iauour as a political foroa is already a mouaoo to tho easy-going gentlemen ol the old school, who have slubbered tor so long on the .green- benches of St. Stephen's. Everybody is asking, 'What docs it all mean? What does the Labout party Want? What will it do?' The answer to theso questions will in due time he given. _But one thing is already clear. A new party which can place its candidate at the head of the poll in the historio: constituency of Newcastlc-on-Tyne, with one of the highest votes ;in the, whole country; a party which can win seats in Bradford and Glasgow, in Dundee and in London, against .the nominees of both Liberals and Tories. has a 'future before it, and will have a hand in the making of history. Organised labour at last lias realised its power, and has learned how to use it." An analysis of the results of tho recent contest is presented in the following table 1. SINGLE-MEMBER CONSTITUENCIES: Seats Won. L:R.C candidates opposed by Liberal only 1 0 L.R.C. candidates opposed by Conservative only 22 IB L.R.C. candidates opposed by Liberal and Conservative .. 1-1 3 2. DOUBLE-MEMBER COiNSTITUENCIES. L.R.C. candidate opposed by 1 Liberal and 1 Conservative 4 3 L.R.C. candidate opposed by 1 Liberal and 2 Conservatives 6 4 ,L.R.C. candidate opposed by 2 Liberals and 2 Conservatives ..' 1 1 L.R.C. candidates opposed by 2 Liberals and 3 Conservatives 1 0 L.R.C. candidates opposed by ! 2 Liberals only 1 1 Whilst the total votes polled by all parties numbered 859,518, those polled by Labour Representation Committee's 'candidates) unnibered 323,195, or 37 per cent, of the'total, making an increase of their total vote since 1900 of 217,095. jjTho report adde: "Our success at the {polls has been regarded as the most event or tho election. We havo now won national recognition, and for the time being the Into of cur {movement has to be decided, not only 'on tho platform, but also oil the floor of the llouso of Commons."

' The present membership. is 921,280, which docs' no! represent tile lull as owing to tlie interruption ■of the ordinary work by the flection, i'tlio usual reminders were not sent out. jlOwing mainly to trade disputes several of tho affiliated societies show a reduction of mcuilK>rshi[>, and during the yoar twenty-five small societies (including trades councils) eithel" ceased to subscribe or wet% merged in larger bodies already affiliated. As a set-off to this, however, twenty-seven societies, with a much: large membership than tho others, applied tor admission, and there aro now affiliated 158 trades unions and .seventy-throe trades councils, tof ether with the Independent Labour arty and tho Fabian Society. . Regarding the work of the Labour 'group in the last Parliament, the reiport declares it is not too much to say that, had it not been for the Labour Representation Committee members, the Unemployed Bill would never 111 VP been passed. Tho measure as "passed did not meet tho committee's requirements, and tho orders issued by :tho Local Government Board defining ■the lines of its administration were still more disappointing, but in the new Parliament tho Labour party will renew its efforts to secure amendments to tho Act, which will recognise tho refiuousibiilty of. the public to provido work for the unemployed. Mr. Henderson's Bill amending the Education Act of 1902, so as to give public authorities power to. provide pieals for schoolchildren, will, in a slightly amended form, be introduces in the coming se»sion by the member for Barnard Castle. The Trades Disputes Bill will now come before a Parliament pledged to deal with the question on the lines of tho ooirjmitteo'a Bill, and they hope that a satisfactory measure will soon be on the Statute Book.

As to finance, the year was begun with a balance of £360, a.% against £220 twelve months ago, though of the former ijmount £lO5 is ear-marked for repayment to the Parliamentary fund. The affiliation fees amounted to £BG-I, as against £839 a year ago. The net ■balanoa of the Parliamentary fund is £6,641, upon which the committee remark: "The return of twonty-fiine Labour Representation Committee members to Parliament will necessitate a reconsideration of the basis of this fund. On present payment we cannot hope to receive more than £4,500 per annum, whilst an income of nearly double that amount will soon be required. By drawing upon onr balance we can meet onr maximum obligations for the next year; but in the meantime our affiliated societies will have to consider an increased subscription to tbis fund. We do not think this burden should be imposed upon them at all, as our members are doing national work, and should bo paid from national funds. Until we can get that provision inserted in the Budget, our Parliamentary fund will have to lie kept financially sound."