PLEA FOR RETURN TO SOCIALISM

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30398, 24 March 1964, Page 3

PLEA FOR RETURN TO SOCIALISM

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 23. A call to the political Labour Party to assume the socialistic standards of its founders is made in the report of the Federation of Labour to be presented to the annual conference in May. It emphasises the need for political Labour to adhere to basic socialist principles “to win the confidence and active support of militant trade unionists.”

The federation had already conveyed to the party’s national executive its opinion of Labour “new lookers” who abandoned principles for expediency, says the report.

“It is hoped this conference will give serious consideration to the past activities and future possibilities of the Labour Party.”

Before 7”55, the party’s objective was “the socialisation of the means of production, distribution and exchange.” After 1955 it had been “to promote and protect the freedom of the people and thenpolitical, social, economic and cultural welfare.”

“Any person with an atom

of political consciousness, with the exception of the most reactionary Tory diehard, can subscribe to the latter objective,” says the report. “The first objective is in line with that of the Federation of Labour as set out under the constitution in Rule 3J, namely ultimately production for social use and not for private profit.” A number of F.O.L. conference delegates would also attend the annual conference of the Labour Party, says the report. These delegates would make a worthwhile contribution to F.O.L. objectives “by impressing on aspiring Parliamentarians that no ‘new look’ in 1963 or in any election year can overcome the fact that there is a class struggle.”

This basic fact had been soundly outlined by the Lea-

der of the party from 1915 to 1932, the late Mr Harry Holland.

He had written: “The present form of society rests on the ownership of land and machinery. Those who own the land and machinery constitute the capitalist class.”

In its outlook and aims the F.O.L. was in line with the principles laid down by Mr Holland, says the report.

“The ‘new lookers’ have repudiated Mr Holland’s analysis of capitalism. In doing so they depart from the working class and the trade unions.”

When the report on class struggle was referred to the president of the party (Dr A. M. Findlay) in Auckland, he said he had no comment to make.

“It is the first time I have heard of that,” he said.