DROPPED OVERBOARD

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 35, 4 November 1922, Page 5

DROPPED OVERBOARD

SOCIALISTIC OBJECTIVE CLAUSE AFRICAN LABOUR PARTY’S DECISION A BARGAIN WITH THE NATIONALISTS The South African Labour party has dropped overboard the primary objective embodied in its constitution, a clause calling for the socialisation of the means of industry, distribution, and exchange. BY TELEGBAPH.—PBKSB ASSOCIATION. —COPYBIGHT. Cape Town, November 2. < Confirmation is lent to a statement that the Nationalists and Labour Party have agreed to drop certain planks of their platforms., in order to co-op-erate against the Government, by an announcement in a message received by a Bloemfontein Labour meeting from Mr. Cresswell, leader of the Labour Party. He suggested that the party should drop the Socialistic clause in the constitution, pointing out that there was no such clause in the British Labour Constitution. The proposal was unanimously adopted. In the 'meantime, the Nationalist leaders, including General Hertzog, are stating that republicanism was never the avowed policy of the party. Ihis is intended to placate Joyal Labourites. ] ~ Mr. Grossweil’s proposhi to ecrap tne Socialistic objective clause in the Labour Party’s constitution, .which, by the way, is the primary objective (Unbodied therein, has caused widespread interest and comment in Johannesburg. , The clause calls for the socialisation of the means of industry, distribution, and exchange to bo controlled by the Democratic State in the niterests of th whole country. In a statement to the “Star, Mr. Cresswell says: “Owing to wild misinterpretation in many’quarters, the clause acts as a stumbling-block and afcenates the support of many who are in entire agreement with the party s attitude. In practical policy the second clause of the constitution, advocating securing for the by hand or brain, the full fruits of industry, and the most equitable distribution, on the basis of common ownership, of the means of life and the best system of popular administration for each industry, makes the party’s attitude sufficiently clear, and is the same objective as that of the British Labour Party.” . . Notwithstanding * this explanation, the general opinion is that the announcement was made in fulfilment of a bargain with the Nationalists. General Hertzog says that Mr. Cresswell’s action is wise for Labour and South Africa. He is convinced that Marxian Socialism will never find favour in South Africa. —Aus.-N’.Z. Cable Assn.