LABOUR MOVEMENT

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 156, 30 March 1937, Page 10

LABOUR MOVEMENT

Growth During Year

MORE THAN 500 DELEGATES

More than 500 delegates—double the previous record set last year—-are attending the twenty-first annual Faster conference of the New Zealand Labour Party, which opened in the Town Mali, Wellington, yesterday. The president, the Rev. Clyde Carr. M.P., presided. Included in the assembly were the Act-ing-Prime Minister, Hon. P. hraser, and other members of Cabinet. After Mr. J. O. Johnson, president of the Wellington Labour Representation Committee, had welcomed the delegates to Wellington, Mr. Fraser conveyed the greetings of the Government. Mr. Fraser presented the annual report ’of the Parliamentary Labour Party, which was adopted.

Report of Executive.

The report of the national executive committee, as supplied to the Press, stated that, the past year in New Zealand had been one of the most outstanding in the history of the Dominion, and the efforts of the first Labour Government to place on the statute book the policy which they enunciated at the last general election had aroused vyorld-wide interest. Friend and foe alike were in agreement that no previous Government had done so much in such a short period to implement its policy. What the people thought about it had been shown in no uncertain manner during the Prime Minister s recent tour of the South Island and the North Island. No previous Prime Minister had received such a royal welcome, spontaneous display of affection and appreciation. This was a tribute not only to the man himself but also to the Government. The future looked bright, and only disunity in Labour’s ranks could defeat it, and there was not the slightest indication of anything of that nature; rather the contrary. Owing to the length of the Parliamentary session and the prevalence of infantile paralysis during the last few months, public meetings had not been held to the extent that would otherwise have been the case, but few parts of New Zealand had been neglected. Not only had Labour members of Parliament been active in their own constituencies, but every non-Labour constituency in the Dominion had been visited, with the exception of Bay of Islands, which would receive attention after the conference. Reports from Wallace, Central Otago, Waitomo, Temuka, and New Plymouth were particularly encouraging, but in all the non-Labour electorates there was more activity and enthusiasm than heretofore. Mr. Savage’s Dominion tour had been of inestimable value to the party everywhere. The organisation of Maori supporters had been very successfully carried out by the committee appointed by the conference last year, and the fact that the year finished with over 9000 members was the best evidence of the good work it had done. The party had never been better organised than at present, with 364 branches ready to enter the fray at a moment’s notice, and 329 unions ready to do their part in providing the sinews of war. The memorial to the late Mr. H. E. Holland had been finished by the sculptor, Mr. R. O. Gross, but in.view of the Prime Minister’s absence from New Zealand it was deemed advisable that the unveiling ceremony should be postponed until after his return. Recently Mr. Savage and other representatives of the national executive viewed the memorial in the sculptor’s studio, and all expressed appreciation of the wonderful conception, which would not only fittingly honour a great man, but would be a credit to the Labour movement also. New Lease of ’Life. Due to the industrial legislation of the Government, the trade union movement had taken on a new lease Of life, and with the institution of compulsory . unionism, many new unions had been formed. This had meant an influx of new affiliations, including for the first time three Public Service organisations. In last year’s report it was stated that the .political situation in New Zealand was particularly favourable, and everything happening since then had but strengthened the hold which the party had and increased its following among the electors. The situation abroad, however, gave much cause for disquiet, and it was hoped that the Prime Minister’s visit to Great Britain and the discussion in which he, the Minister of Finance, and the High Commissioner would take part during the Bitting of the Imperial Conference would be helpful to the cause of world peace and economic stability. The visit of the Hon. H. T. Armstrong to Geneva might also have important consequences, and he would, in any case, create a precedent by being the first Minister of Labour to attend the conference of the International Labour Office.

“New Zealand had a parr to play far in excess of its importance as a nation in winning tlie world for democracy and Socialism, and we can depend absolutely upon our representatives to worthily play their part,” the report concluded..

ADDRESS BY AMERICAN PROFESSOR

During the afternoon sitting of the New Zealand Labour Party conference yesterday. Professor Coni ton Warne, of the University of Massachusetts and a member of the American Federation of Labour, addressed Ihe delegates. Professor Warne explained developments that were taking place in the individual States of the Union and throughout the nation with the object of forming an American Labour Party with Socialist aims. Very considerable progress had been made in this direction in some of the States, he said. He nlso spoke as a member of t he co-opera-tive consumers’ movement in the United States, and expressed pleasure ar the growth of the movement in New Zealand. The conference adjourned at 4 p.tn.

to allow its special committees Io examine the remits from the branches and report back. The first business this morning will be consideration of the venue of next year’s conference and the election of the national president and 20 members of the national executive. The national secretary, Mr. D. Wilson, was reelected unopposed. A welcome social to visiting delegates will be held in the Town Hall to-night, the hosts being the Wellington Labour Representation Committee.