LABOUR CONFERENCE AT HULL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9039, 24 January 1908, Page 5

LABOUR CONFERENCE AT HULL.

WOMAN'S SUFFRAGE REJECTED. DELEGATES HISSED. Received January 23, 8.43 a.m. LONDON, January 22. The Labour Party conference at Hull rejected a resolution in favour of extending the suffrage to women on the same terms as to men. An amendment in favour of full adult suffrage was carried by three to one. A separate amendment extending the Parliamentary franchise to wo:nen was rejected by a large majority. Women who were in the gullery hissed the decision. A MINIMUM WAGE. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC EQUALITY BETWEEN THE SEXES. —p—• / MOTION IN FAVOUR OF SOCIAL ISM CARRIED. Received January 23, 10.37 p.m. LONDON, January 23. The conference adopted a resolution calling upon the Government to establish minimum wages in selected trades, despite Mr, Ramsay Macdonald's warning that the New Zealand Trades Union Congress had declared that Wages Boards had hindered more than helped wages. Mr A. Hendersop, Labour member for Durham, said that Mr Macdonald was prejudiced ' against Wages Boards, while Mr Keir Hardie had approved of them after visiting the colonies. Mr Stephenson, representative of the Amalgamated Engineers' Society, moved: "That the time has arrived when the .Labour Party should declare definitely in favour of Socialism as a means of production, distribution and exchange to be controlled by a democratic stfete in the interest of the entire community; also that this conference is in favour of the complete emancipation of labour from the domination of capitalism and landlordism with the establishment of social and economic equality between t)l6 SOX6S. M Mr D. J. Shackleton, Labour member for Catheroe, said that if the resolution was adopted it would be a serious hindrance to the party, which would be one of consequence before many years. Almost without discussion the closure was applied, and the resolution was passed by 514,000 to 469,000, the Socialists singing the "Red Flag." Mr Ramsay Macdonald moved a motion-repudiating Socialism as antagonistic to family organisation and religion. This was carried. £ A resolution was passed expressing strong adherence to the cause of international peace. The next conference will meet at Portsmouth.

, PRESS COMMENTS. Received January 23, 11.23 p.m. LONDON, January 23. The "Tribune" says that the Hull Conference vote means that while only an extreme minority of the Socialists are prepared as yet to present an ultimatum to the trade unionist section, yet the majority are already eager to parade the design with which the trade unionist and Liberal labour men are invited to come in. The "Daily Telegraph" says that the Red Flag is indistinguishable from the "Jolly Roger." The decision is a crushing blow to the Liberal party, and is certain to widen the gulf between the two sections of labour and exacerbate the differences and jealousies between the rival leaders. The "Daily Mail" says that the immediate result will be further secessions from the Liberal ranks. The "Morning Post" says that two apparently diametrically opposite decisions mean that a majority of the delegates are Socialists, but are not prepared to ostracise all who are not Socialists. THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENCY. W. J. BRYANT'S NOMINATION. MR HUGHES WILL STAND. Received January 23, 10.38 a.m. NEW YORK, January 22. The Democrats intend nominating Mr W. J. Bryan at the Denver Convention in July. Mr C. E. Hughes, Governor of New York, in a letter to the Republican Club, announces that he is willing to accept nomination for the Presidency against Mr Taft. THE BALTIC SEA. GERMAN OFFICIAL STATEMENT. Received January 22, 9.2 p.m. BERLIN, January 23. It is officially stated here that the negotiations between Germany, Russia and Sweden never contemplated the reserving of the Baltic to the Powers on its coasts or excluding other Powers. The negotiations refer to the territorial possessions of the States on the Baltic shores, not the Baltic sea or its entrances or exits.

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