LABOR CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 107, 13 January 1912, Page 5

LABOR CONFERENCE.

WIDENED FEDERATION NECESSARY. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Hobart, January 12. At the Labor Conference a motion that in the event of constitutional power being obtained, a national sugar refinery should be established was carried. It was also agreed that publicly owned ironworks were an urgent necessity. It was decided to send a letter of fraternal greeting to the Social Democratic Party in Germany, wishing it success in the elections. A motion by Messrs. Fisher and McGowan that negotiations for closer in. dustrial and commercial relations with New Zealand should be opened immediately was carried. Mv. Fisher declared that it was well known that trouble in the Pacific would have to be met by all Australasia. They should sound New Zealand's opinion. Mr. iMcGowan said that a widened federation, by the inclusion of New Zealand, was necessary for the welfare of the States. A motion that State members should be eligible to contest Federal seats, without resigning, was carried. THE AGENDA PAPER There were a great number of interesting questions set down for consideration by .the conference, among them being the . illowing:— i hat, conference requests the Federal Labor party to formulate a definite programme of propaganda and organising work to be carried out by the party during the recess of Parliament. That under out present economic conditions, 'with a system of encouraging by machinery the production of commodities of life, it is now necessary that six hours constitute a day's work, and that same .be placed as a plank upon the Commonwealth Labor platform. That a referendum be again submitted to the people of Australia at the next election for power to amend the Constitution- to nationalise monopolies. That in consequence of the exorbitant charges made for medical attendance on people of small income a proposal of providing free medical attendance and medicine to such people be considered by congress. That congress request the Federal Government to establish a scheme of national insurance (life and fire), in view of the fact that the privately-owned insurance companies are exploiting all customers who are practically compelled to deal with them; also because the concern under' Government control would be a sound financial proposition, and in the best interest of all classes of the community. , That the Labor party be given the right to recall any member who is not faithful to his pledges, or who in the opinion of the party should be withdrawn. That the abolition of the iron and sugar bounties and nationalisation of the iron and sugar-refining industries be made a planlc of the .platform. That prohibition of /the marriage of Australian with any other than white races be made a plank of the platf6rm. That export duties be placed on all articles of food and clothing produced or , manufactured in Australia until such articles are retailed to Australians at a fair and l reasonable price That any member of Labor partv, whether in Parliament ' or not, who accepts an imperial title shall automatically cease to be a member. That the Federal Government submit to a referendum at next election the following:—"That any legislation passed bv the Federal Parliament hereafter shaM be deemed as an amendment of the Constitution." • That the conference consider the desirability of,urging the Federal Labor Government to appoint Labor supporters where practicable, and, other things coiial. as officials at the polling booths in connection with Federal pollings. That it be a recommendation to the Federal Labor Government to name the Federal capital "Eureka." That a Commonwealth owned and controlled fleet of mail, steamers for 1 oversea trade, with full provision for the carriage of fruit and other cool storage produce, be established; also Commonwealth owned and controlled fleet of interstate steamers. That the. interstate conference immediately take into consideration the remodelling of the whole of the Federal Constitution, with a view of the abolition of the Hi<?h Court and the State Governors and Parliaments as at present existing, and the transfer, of their property and noWers to the Government and Parliament of the Commonwealth. That the proposals submitted at the recent Federal referendums be placed upon, the Federal fwrhting platform. Thnt all elections be held on Saturdays. That the Federal Government be ursfed to secure the adoption of the principle of preference to unionists .in the Oom-

monwealth Arbitration Act. That no referendum upon any question shall be taken upon the same day as a 'Federal ejection. That a Federal ftehtins? fund locallv administered be established in each State and that it be compulsory for all Federal Labor members to contribute

thereto such percentage of their salar-

ies as conference may decide. That two additional judces be immediate'v appointed to the High Court in order to_ ensure verdicts in n/vord with the spirit of orescent Federal industrial and othrr legislation. That the representation of all the States at the interstate conference W on a similar basis to Queensland, viz.. that a majority of representatives be nonParliamentarian. Amendment of the Federal Elfietoral Act to permit of members of the State Parlament becoming candidates for the Federal Parliament.