A SOCIALIST SET-BACK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 167, 14 July 1908, Page 3

A SOCIALIST SET-BACK.

* (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. The local Socialists got a decided setback at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Trades and Labour Council on Saturday night. No secret--had been made of the intention on the part of the Political Labour League to capture all the important positions, and prominent members of the League (or the Socialist party) were nominated for all the posts. The consternation of the "advanced" party in the Council was great when their for the position of president was badly beaten by a majority of over fifty votes, or nearly twice the number voted for the advanced party's nominee. This treatment was meted out to the other Socialist nominees, though some of them, when the debacle set in, did not seek election. The retiring president (Mr. J. Thorn), who figured so prominently at the premier meeting in this city five or six weeks ago, was amongst thosp who reCognised that discretion was the better part of valour, and did not carry out his intention of seeking election as secretary. The defeat of the Socialists was complete and disastrous, for, in view of tho coming general election, they would have been in a much better position to conduct their campaign than they will be now. The members of the executive of the Council elected on Saturday night were all moderates, and are not likely to go out of their way to assist the advanced party.