Labour nearer top gear

Press, Issue 33840, 12 May 1975, Page 2

Labour nearer top gear

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 11. The Labour Party this week will move up toward top gear for the General Election when it holds its fifty-ninth annual conference in Wellington.

Policies thrashed out at the five-day conference will provide the basis for the party’s election planks as it seeks a second term as the Government.

The delegates coming to Wellington for the conference will have plenty to talk about, and listen to. Nearly

200 remits will go before the conference, and committee chairmen have been asked to keep a tight rein on proceedings. It will be Mr Rowling’s first conference as leader of the country and of the party’s Parliamentary wing, and his first confrontation with the party backbone since he became Prime Minister eight months ago. Moral issues are expected to figure prominently at the conference, both abortion and homosexual law reform appearing on the remit paper. .The legalising of some drugs is also set down for discussion.

On moral issues, the conference has always tended to

favour the status quo, and, especially in an election year, would tend to shy away from decisions which could be seen as contentious by the community as a whole. Dr Bennett's position as president is being challenged by three people, Messrs J. G. O’Brien (the M.P. for Island Bay), E. J. Keating, of Wellington, and T. Thompson, of Auckland.

Both Mr Keating and Mr Thompson are expected to withdraw, however, leaving it a two-way fight between Mr O’Brien and Dr Bennett. Mr O’Brien will expect, and probably get, support from the trade union faction, but Dr Bennett, representing the status quo, is favoured to retain his post.

Mr O’Brien is also a candidate for senior vicepresident, a new position. It has a field of five, but Mr O’Brien’s main opposition is expected to be the M.P. for New Lynn, Mr J. L. Hunt.

The trade union vote for Mr O’Brien might give him the edge. For the other new position of junior vicepresident, Mr M. K. Moore, the M.P. for Eden, has the inside running. Fifty-six are seeking the five positions on the executive. The large number of nominations is because for the first time, executive members do not have to be based in Wellington. Large numbers of candidates are Miso contesting the positions for women’s, youth, Maori, Polynesian, and regional representatives on the executive, and the election of officers could take up much of Tuesday morning.