THE LABOUR PARTY.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 95, 22 April 1924, Page 10

THE LABOUR PARTY.

a. . ■ POSITION AND PROSPECTS. RECORD YEAR S WORK. SIXTY' CANDIDATES CONSIDERED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association). DUNEDIN', Monday. The eighth annual conference of the Xew Zealand Labour party was opened this morning, Sir. T. Brindle (president) occupying the chair, and over 100 delegates, representing 00 organisations and branches of the party, being present. In welcoming the delegates, Mr.: Brindle said they could rejoice at the progress made, both in the number of adherents gained to their cause and the. prestige attained in political life. The year had been a phenomenal one from the point of view of the organisation of new branches. The party had increased by leaps and bounds, and Labour, sentiment was growing stronger and more resolute in every electorate throughout the Dominion. This'changed feeling was due to a large extent to the work done by the Labour members in Parliament. Mr. Wilford _ party had become a byword throughout the country, and the party led by Mr. Massey was still blundering on, showing an inaptitude to deal with current problems of social and economic life that was at once astounding and tragic. The past record of Mr. Massey's Government had been unashamedly and specifically in the interests of big landed and financial groups. | The annual report stated that immediately prior to the closing of last Par-, liamentary session, the national secretary had placed proposals before, the members of the party in Parliament through whicii every part of the Dominion would be brought into touch with its platform, and the result was shown in the fact that branches were operating in all but two of the electorates in the North Island, and in all but seven electorates in the South Island. Never in the history of the movement had so much new ground been broken in one year. The National Office Establishment Fund, inaugurated in March, 1923, and established at the Christchurch conference, had reached £1110 1-/6. Sixty nominations of Parliamentary candidates had so far been considered by the executive, and others were under consideration. The balance sheet, which showed a substantial credit, was read and adopted. Mr. Holland handed in the report of the Parliamentary Labour party, and after some discussion a motion was carried that the conference record its appreciation of the splendid light made by the members of the- party in Parliament, during the 1923 session, in the interests of the workers'of theDomiiijcn,and that each delegate pledge himself.. or herself to', work to ensure*the 'return at next election of, sufficient' members to place tbe party in charge of the government of the Dominion.