LIBERAL AND LABOUR FEDERATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 16, 19 January 1905, Page 3

LIBERAL AND LABOUR FEDERATION.

THE WELLINGTON CONFERENCE

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON- this day,

Among other matters discussed at the .' conference of representatives of the 1 various branches of the Liberal and Labour Federation on Tuesday night, was . the advisability of collecting subscriptions to defray the expenses of the cam- ; paign in November next. The freehold v. leasehold tenure was : also the subject matter of discussion. It was urged by the president of the Federation, the Right Hon. Mr Seddon, i that in order to defeat the tactics of the Conservative forces at the coming general elections, the interests of the Liberal and Labour factions should be . firmly consolidated, as the fight promised to be an exceptionally severe one. : If the party went to the polls with the rank and file all at sixes and sevens, the ultimate effect would be the victory of their opponents. He urged upon them the desirability of patching up all differences and working shoulder to shoulder ill order to maintain the position of the great Liberal party. As stated in my special of Tuesday's issue, the Government will endeavour to give effect to the wishes of the representatives of the Federation by placing either the absolute majority or a second ballot bill on the .Statute Book next session. The proposal to choose candidates to contest the various seats in the interests of the Liberal and Labour Party did not meet with general favour, and it was ultimately decided to hold over this question until the electoral boundaries have been defined, when the executive of the Federation will be in a better position of arranging the situation. The Federation as a whole is to meet in June next. The closest secrecy has been observed in regard to what took place at Tuesday night's conclave, and the representatives present courteously but firmly declined to furnish the press with any information of the proceedings. But the best laid schemes of men and mice are upset at times, and the "Star" readers can take it for granted that what they have been advised in respect to the deliberations of the conference is pretty near the mark.