Labour Party Split Now Likely In N.S.W.

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27642, 26 April 1955, Page 13

Labour Party Split Now Likely In N.S.W.

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) SYDNEY, April 24. A big effort which is being made to prevent a split in the New South Wales branch of the Australian Labour Party looks as if it may fail. The attempt to unify the party, which is split into factions for and against industrial groups, is being made by Federal officers who have been conducting an inquiry into the State executive. They are carrying out an order from the federal executive to investigate charges that the N.S.W. executive is under the influence of “The Movement,” a Catholic Action organisation alleged to be working through the industrial groups. In an effort to unify the party, the investigation committee of four Federal officers arranged a round-table conference between the leaders of the two factions for next week, hoping to reach a compromise. This could be brought about if a plan submitted by the Premier, Mr J. J. Cahill, was accepted by a group of unions which want the State executive tp be wiped out, and a new one set up in its place. Mr Cahill had proposed that 15 of the 32-member executive who allegedly refused to accept the authority of the Federal A.L.P., should be dismissed, but that the other executive members should be left alone. Last night, however, the State executive decided to direct their delegates to the “unity conference’ not to accept any compromise without reporting back to the executive and not to accept any agreement providing for the removal of any members of the executive. Observers believe these decisions indicate that the supporters of the industrial groups have regained control of the State executive and are ready to “go down fighting.” The observers think the “die-hard groupers” have persuaded the waverers that compromise will not save them from Federal discipline and that they may as well fight to the end. The result could be a split in the party as wide as the one which occurred in Victoria. A rebellion in Victoria by 11 mem-

bers against the party’s Federal executive destroyed the State Labour Government this week and one in New South Wales could similarly destroy, or at least maim, the government led by Mr Cahill. Further, a split in the New South Wales Party would probably force some Labour members of the Federal Parliament who represent New South Wales seats into the new Anti-Com-munist Labour Party which has taken its place in the Federal House. The Labour Party Federal conference in Hobart last month ordered the committee to investigate the charges against the industrial groups (which were mainly laid by a number of anti-group unions in New South Wales) and report their findings to the Federal Executive. It also withdrew the Labour Party’s su’;uort from the industrial groups. The inquiry is being carried out by four Federal Labour officials—two vice-presidents, Mr F. E. Chamberlain (West Australia) and Mr W. R. Colbourne (N.S.W.), the Federal Secretary, Mr J. Schmella (Queensland) and Senator J. Toohey (South Australia), who is deputising for the Federal President, Mr E. E. Reece.

The investigating committee has heard evidence from the Premier, Mr Cahill, the president of the N.S.W. branch of the A.L.P., Mr J. Shorten, and the Federal Secretary of the powerful Australian Workers* Union. Mr T. Dougherty. , Mr Dougherty has been a major figure in the antiexecutive move.

Up to the present the N.S.W. executive has been controlled by a largely anti - Evatt, pro - industrial group faction. It is opposed by a group of more than 30 unions which would like to see the executive wiped out and replaced by their own pro-Evatt representatives. Early in the inquiry, Mr Cahill (the first witness to appear before the Federal committee) put forward the compromise plan to restore unity and prevent too much blood-letting. This was that the 15 members of the 32-member State executive who allegedly refused to accept the authority of the Federal A.L.P. should be summarily dismissed and their places

filled with anti-group supporters that State politicians would sup

any action against industrial groups. In return for this offer, the endorsements of the State politicians for the next elections would not be interfered with. The industrial groups were dealt a heavy blow when the president of the N.S.W. branch. Mr J. Shorten, told the investigating committee that he was prepared to take “appropriate” action against individuals or groups proved to be working “against the best interests of the Labour movement.” Up till then Mr Shorten had consistently supported the A.L.P. groups.

The investigating committee was apparently satisfied that the attitudes of Mr Cahill and Mr Shorten would ensure a “clean-up” in the State party. Now, however, it has the difficult task of convincing Mr Dougherty and the anti-group unions that this action will be sufficient. Protests and petitions from rank-and-file Labour bodies in many parts of the State have made it clear that there is an open revolt by anti-group unions against the compromise. They want the whole executive to be msmissed. The committee does not want the now triumphant Dougherty-Evatt coalition to impose such impossibly outrageous terms on their rivals as to Erovoke open rebellion from utter opelessness. With this in mind tha committee had arranged a roundtable conference aimed at restoring ■Unity in the party for next week. This conference which will be attended by Mr Dougherty and possibly other officials, will decide whether me Cahill plan will be accepted or whether the executive’s opponents will demand more blood— and perhaps a - split in the party.