DEMOCRATIC LABOUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 November 1940, Page 7

DEMOCRATIC LABOUR

MEETING OF LOCAL BRANCH LAST NIGHT. REPORT ON RECENT CONFERENCE There was a large attendance of members at the monthly meeting of the Masterton brancn of the Democratic Labour Party held in the Y.M.C.A. rooms last night. The president, Mr. E. J. Esler. was in the chair. Six new members were enrolled. In commenting on the foundation , conference held in Wellington recently it was pointed out by Mr. Esler that the policy which was endorsed by the conference was not the policy which “would go before the public at the next general election. A policy would be determined by a special conference before the next election. The president stated that great enthusiasm had been shown at the conference by delegates in all walks of life, from a principal of a college to the man ‘on the ‘shovel,” from as far south as Invercargill, to Whangarei in the north. The foundation stone had been well laid, and on it was being built a political party from the rank and file. The uplifting of humanity was its ideal. The conference had pledged itself to reform the monetary system. Members discussed the amendment to the public safety regulations. Amazement was expressed at the far reaching powers which could be the means of creating hardship for the working classes. A motion of condolence with friends and relatives of the men who lost their lives in the Greymouth mine disaster was passed. It was decided to set up a debating club to visit the surrounding branches of the Democratic Labour Party.