LABOUR PLEDGE ABOLISHED.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 233, 1 October 1910, Page 5

LABOUR PLEDGE ABOLISHED.

TRUST IN PARTY LOYALTY. A BASIS OF COMPROMISE l ON OSBORNE JUDGMENT. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright) i LONDON, September 30. i The executive of the Labour party has resolved to recommend the annual con- , fercnce, which meets in February at Lei- ' cester, to abolish the signing of the • Labour party constitution by Parliamentary representatives. 1 It is argued that the party has now 1 an established policy, and defined its position, and is ablo to rely on ordinary - party loyalty. Mr. J. Ramsay Macdonald (ex-secre-tary of the Labour party), in an inter- ' view, said that the proposed change would • remove one of the objections to the reversal of the Osborne judgment, but Osborne or no Osborne, the pledge was al- ' ways regarded as temporary, and would ! have been abolished. The "Daily Express" quotes the stateI ments of the judges in the Osborne case I that the pledge was illegal and void, be- '; cause against public policy, and adds: 1 | "Mr. D. J. Shackleton and the most model rate members of the party have been since .in negotiation with the Government, and jit is generally believed that Mr. Asquith insisted on the abolition of the pledge as a preliminary to any change he may introduce. "The indications,"' continues the "Exi press," "are that the abolition of the pledge offers a basis for compromise, inasmuch as the Cabinet emphasised the necessity for Socialist wire-pullers mak- ; ing a substantial concession to Liberal stalwarts to whom the pledge was obnoxious, preventing the Labour party from helping Liberal candidates in industrial constituencies." The "Daily Chronicle" states that, according tc Mr. Mac Donald. the executive's decision will not amount to very much, but most people will think it amounts to a g-eat deal and it will profoundly influence future Labour policy. "If there had been no pledge." the "Chronicle" proceeds, "there would have been no Osborne judgment, and its aboliI tion will remove the most formidable obi stacle to the Labour demand for the reI versa] of the judgment. Ever since the I Miners' Federation joined the Labour ! party the trade unionist section has been I growing in influence, and the party's ! counselling of abolition looks uncom- ! monly like a victory for trade unionism as distinguished from socialism. If any .real Labour grievance should remain ! after payment of members is secured, the : legislative remedy will be promptly forlh- | coming." The "Daily News" states that Liberals may congratulate Labour men on ridding I themselves of a restriction which might I have prejudiced them in tlie struggle, rei opening within three weeks, for deruocracy.