LABOUR PARTY IN CONFERENCE

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21456, 24 April 1935, Page 15

LABOUR PARTY IN CONFERENCE

MR W. NASH ELECTED PRESIDENT ILLNESS OF MRS M'COMBS (paasa hsociatio* TsutaxAM.) WELLINGTON, April 23. Mr Walter Nash, M.P., was elected president and Mr J. Robertg viceof the New Zealand Labour Party, at the annual conference today. Other officers elected were:— Central executive, Messrs T. JBrindle, P. M. Butler, P. Dowse, the Hon. Mark Fagan, M.L.C., and Mr D. Wilson; divisional area representatives, Messrs .T G. Barclay, M. J. Savage, MP., D. W. Coleman, M.P., J. S. Montgomerie, W. J. Rogers, W. H. Oliver, A. Spurr, A. H. McKane, G. T, Thurston, G. T. Koller, P. Neilson, and A. J. Middlemiss. The morning session of the conference was occupied with a discussion on finances and the report of the Labour par . in Parliament during the last session. This was presented by Mr M. J. Savage, leader of the Opposition, who received an ovation. Concluding his review, Mr Savage said the party in New Zealand owed its position in the political life of the country to its adherence to the principles upon which its platform was based, and to the spirit of co-opera-tion which for many years prevailed among its members. -These qualities would ultimately be the means of the party securing the reins of government, the first step toward attaining its objective. Reference to the fact that Mrs E. R. McCombs, owing to ill-health, had found it necessary to return home during the last session of Parliament was made by Mr Savage, who said there appeared to be no doubt that her illness to a large extent had resulted from the long hours and heavy strain involved by her Parliamentary duties. All joined in wishing her a speedy recovery, and assured her of a hearty welcome by all members of the House when she returned. Mr Savage said that there was no page in the political history of New Zealand that contained a more damaging indictment against any Government than did the Native Affairs Commission's report .against the Coalition Government. It provided abundant evidence of lack of co-operation between kindred departments such as the Native, Lands, and Valuation Departments. Public and native interests as a result had suffered in many respects, including the high prices for land purchased for native purposes.

"Mr J. K. Archer and I had a slight difference of opinion when he was in Oamaru," said Mr W. H. Frith, former Mayor of Oamaru, in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr Archer for his welcome to the delegates at the conference of the Protestant Alliance Friendly Society yesterday morning. "Mr Archer believed in the appointment of women justices of the peace, and I did not," continued Mr Frith; "Mrs Archer also strongly supported the proposal. Several women justices have since been appointed, and they seem to have justified their appointment." Johan Frederik Wulff, the blind Danish printer, who invented the system of double-sided Braille printing, as well as apparatus to enable the blind to print Braille quickly, has died suddenly in Copenhagen at the age of 85. Every State official, clerk, pensioner, workman, and employee in private business in Bulgaria lost one day's salary last month. That day's salary was deducted for the benefit of a "Poor Fund" to help the unemployed.