CURTIN'S SWAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 294, 11 December 1943, Page 5

CURTIN'S SWAY

CONFERENCE TESTS

Opponents Allege Moving Away

From Socialism

N-Z.P.A. Special Correspondent

SYDNEY, Dec. 10.

Australia's internal and external policy for at least the next three years will depend upon the outcome of the conference to be held by theAustralian Labour party, which opens in Sydney on Monday. This National Convention, normally held only once every three years, is the supreme governing body of the Labour party in the Commonwealth.. The policy it enunciates becomes the creed of any Federal Labour Government. ,

Next week's conference is generally regarded as the most momentous since 1916, when the Labour party was in office and split on the conscription issue. The .Prime Minister, Mr. Curtin, will attend as one of the six representatives from West Australia. He has been State delegate for 15 years.

Mr. Curtin is expected to ask the conference to revise the Labour party's platform, to scrap its traditionally isolationist attitude and to adopt a broader outlook more fitted to the part Australia must play in post-war international affairs. Australian Governor-General Some political commentators suggest that Mr. Curtin will also tell the conference that he believes the Labour party's policy of straightout socialisation is impracticable— and that controlled capitalism is preferable.

A strong anti-Curtin group at the conference, it is thought, will allege that the Prime Minister is moving away from Labour policy. For instance, this policy expressly stipulates that there shall be an Australian Governor-General—and in asking that the Duke of Gloucester should become Governor-General, Mr. Curtin did not consult the Labour party caucus, or even the full Cabinet.

South Australia will recommend plans for the immediate socialisation of the coal mines, shipping lines and the heavy metals industry. Its delegates will also seek the early formulation of plans for a socialisation campaign throughout the nation.

A lively debate is anticipated on these socialisation plans, the decision on which will be the test vote of the conference. It will decide whether the Australian Labour party is content to allow Mr. Curtin to shape Federal policy free from interference for the next three years, or whether he is to be ordered to implement immediately the socialisation plank of the party platform.

Thfr-proposed nation-wide referendum on post-war powers for the Commonwealth Government will be another important matter to be considered by the conference. As the dominating figure in the Australian Labour party, Mr. Curtin is expected to carry the day against his opponents. His ability to sway such conventions has been thoroughly tested and his election-winning prestige is likely to prove a powerful persuasive force at this important Labour conference.