THE LIBERAL-LABOUR SPLIT.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14327, 12 April 1912, Page 8

THE LIBERAL-LABOUR SPLIT.

UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO HEAL THE BREACH.

LABOUR HIVES OF.

<.m*):i;t._- to --the prkss"). WELLINGTON. April 11. Sir Joseph Ward and several member-, of the new' Ministry attended a social given in honour ot the I.aliour delegates iiere last night, and in view of the present: -position of politics, the proceedings have a more than usually important aspect. The first- point of intert\st. to Ik- noted is that Sir Joseph Ward, in connection with the toast of Parliament, took precedence ot the members of the Cabinet present. Another point ot interest wa.s that while Sir Joseph Ward expressed the opinion that another election would not lie necessary, the Hon. Roderick McKenzie (late -Minister of Public Works) expressed an exactly contrary opinion. Then after the -Ministerial speechifying had proceeded for some time, Mr A. H. Hindmarsh. the Labour member for Wellington South, made a somewhat dramatic exit from tho meeting. Just after Mr Hanan's speech, he rose and said:—-'Mr Chairman, I refused to attend a Liberal caucus the other day, so I hope you will allow mo to withdraw from the meeting." Mr llindmarsh then left.

The .Ministerial delegation held out the olive branch to Labour, but Professor Mills, the Labour oaganiser from America, dashed their hopes to the ground by a repudiation of the LabourLiberal Party. He said ho wanted it distinctly understood that there was now no such party. He believed that the Liberal leaders had done the best they could, but the first task to be undertaken in New. Zealand was a political re-organisation. The Unity Conference was not an effort to unite the Labour Party with the Liberal Party. His remarks were received with loud applause.

Labour having slept over the matter, to-day emphasised it* repudiation of the Liberal-Ministerialists in no uncertain forms. At the New Zealand Labour Party's conference to-day some very jxiintod references wero mado to last night's social, and the arrangements in connection therewith.

Professor Mills moved:—"That this conference sincerely - regrets the occuirreneo of last night, and the unfortunate position into which the delegates were unwillingly placed. and suggests a joint resolution of both bodies on the re-assembly of the Unity Conference."

Mr J. A. McCiillough said it would be well for tho Labour Party to deal with the question now in the way proposed. Professor Mills said the question of tho invitations to tho ''social" and the drawing up of the toast list would be sure to come up for discussion at the Unity Conference. The resolution he had moved simply affirmed the dissent of tho Labour Party in reference to tho points ho had indicatedThe chairman (Mr W. 11. Hampton) said he was in full accord with the terms of the motion and he thought it would be wise if the conference adopted it. The attitude of the Unitod Labour Party of New Zealand to other bodies should go forth in unmistakable terms, and their relationship to all other labour parties should bo mado clear. With reference to last night's "social," he might .say that he was not on tho committee which organised tho arrangement of the programme of tho social. Ho had always stood for an independent attitudo ou the part of Labour, and be had .sometimes got into hot water in consequence. He would never depart from tho attitudo ho had always taken up. Ho had affirmed, and would continue to affirm, that the lino of action of tho party ia tho political field must be absolutely free, independent and untrammelled by any obligation, whether verbal or written, with any of tho political parties in the Dominion. Mr D. McLaren said that so far ts that party was concerned they were absolutely clear of sending out tho invitations to the "social." Thoy had right through agreed that the New Zealand Labour Party should be absolutely and entirely apart from any other party. Professor Mills said the arrangements at last night's "social" had placed him in a false position. The motion was agreed to.