BRITISH LABOR PARTY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81917, 28 January 1907, Page 3

BRITISH LABOR PARTY.

CONFERENCE AT BELFAST. HOTEWOETRY IiESOLUTIONS. ' ADVANCED SOCIALISM DISCOUKAGED. Lohdon, January 20. The agenda paper of llie Labor Party Coafetence at Belfast contains proposals making it impossible for the party's representatives in Parliament to move in a matter of importance without permission of the con erencc. Mr Heir Hardie protested (hat sn.li an arrangement would haye an hanij •- inR effect. Other speakers remarked that unemployment ought to be in the forefront of the party's programme, but Keir Ilardie and other leaders were promoting the suffragette movement instead, and had fallen under petlico.it intlucuee. Ultimately it was resolved liy a large majority that the paivy's representatives in the House ot Commons should decide the time and method "I executing instructions. Mr Shocklcton mov.d an aniendm. Nt referring back the committee's proposal that there should be established an election agent ollice at a cost of C4.">o per annum. The amendment was carried by a majority of two to one. Keir Hardie and others, on technical grounds, opposed the Paper banners' Union's proposal to make tue party avowedly Socialist. The proposal was negatived hy 835,000 to 08,000. Mr lien Tillctfs motion requiring every Labour Common pr candidate, or delegate to be a trade uuionist. was rejected by 553..000 to 381,000, the Conference considering a trade union test inopportune. Mr Quelch, on bclialf of the London Trades Council, moved that the Conference adopt a piogramme based on the ; resolutions approved at the Trades Unions' Congress, lie alleged his proposal was innocent of Socialism.

Mr Shackleton insisted that the resolutions would commit the party to a Socialism programme. It would he better to drop the question of programme until they had obtained a majority in the House of Commons. The motion was negatived by 1,021,000 to 76JW0. Kcir Hardie said it woukl be a serious tactical error to impose Socialism upon an unprepared people. Tire Conference endorsed Old Age Pensions and Eight Hours' Day.