LABOR’S AIM.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1922, Page 5

LABOR’S AIM.

POLICY IN AUSTRALIA. SOCIALISM AMBITIONS. DEBATE AT CONFERENCE. . i By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received June 10, 5.5 p.m. Perth, June 10. The official report of the Labor Congress states that, by 39 votes to 20, it was decided that the objective of the party be as laid down by the Brisbane conference of 1921. The socialisation of industry, production, and distribution, and the exchange methods of attaining this to be constitutional means. An amendment to strike out the word “constitutional” was defeated. A resolution was also carried declaring for the total cessation of immigration till legislation has been passed limiting immigration in proportion to the preparation for the settlement of Crown and unimproved lands, and the establishment and extension of defined and secondary industries. The Labor Conference discussed a motion endorsing the action of the New South Wales delegates at the Brisbane conference, and instructing the executive to take steps to summon a special inter-State conference, with a view to maintaining the present objective of the New South Wales branch of the Labor Party. Another motion before the conference expressed the opinion that the objective arrived at by the Brisbane conference is bourgeoise in its incidence, and absolutely negatives the international revolutionary character of the efforts of the world’s workers in their endeavor to secure economic change from their claims of slavery, and that we inform the Labor movement that we stand for a straight-out industrial republic, based on the working class recognition of international thought and action, and the world-wide slogan of the world for the world’s workers. After a lengthy discussion, in which opinion was sharply divided, the majority of members of Parliament who spoke' being against the new objective, while the Australian Workers’ Union delegates to a man advocated its adoption with slight alterations in the methods to be utilised in obtaining the objective, an amendment was moved that the conference adopts the Brisbane objective, and the Federal executive be requested to call immediately a special inter-State conference for the purpose of revising the machinery clause and deleting the sub-clause which provides for the establishment of an elective supreme economic council by all nationalised industries. It is officially stated that the feeling of the conference seemed in fjtvor of the amendment.