PREPARATIONS FOR ELECTIONS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 151, 23 March 1938, Page 12

PREPARATIONS FOR ELECTIONS

Labour Party’s Activity DRIVE FOR AFFILIATION AND FUNDS Dominion Special Service. Auckland, March 22. A. determined effort is being made bv ’the New Zealand Labour Party to bring about affiliation of every trades union in the Dominion with the. party, apparently to merge the financial resources of the industrial and political sections. Coincident with this national drive for amalgamation, an appeal fofunds lias ben made by the party headquarters at Wellington, accompanied oy appropriate political propaganda. Air. D. Wilson, national secretary has called for a minimum of £25,091) for the contesting of 80 seats at the coming general elections. Unions whica have not yet affiliated, such as the Auckland Clerical Workers’ Union and the Auckland Amalgamated Society of Shop Assistants, are being actively canvassed. The Shop Assistants Union, with a membership of 4000 embracing the whole of‘the northern industrial district, is to make its decision in June, and it is understood the clerical workers, are to hold a meeting to-morrow evening to make theirs. In the case of the shop assistants, affiliation will cost their union £—oo a vear on the basis of 1/- a year for each member. Half that sum is voted to the Auckland Labour Representation Committee and the other half to the national organisation, but. the system does not stop there, for, .in Air. Wilson’s words, "Last year’s " conference recommended that every Labour supporter should make himself or herself responsible for raising . at least £1 toward election campaign expenses and I am enclosing a subscription list herewith so that any individual who desires to help in that way may do his part. What we want now is' a donation from individuals and organisations, consideration of a voluntary levy from every supporter and a wholehearted' effort on the part of everyone to raise as much money as possible to ensure continuation of government by the people and for the people. All donations will be credited to the electorate in whichvthe donor resides, unless a request is made for it to be used for national purposes.” It will be remembered that in November of last year the Federation of Labour announced a membership of 200,000, which means that, apart from other contributions, the Labour Party, if successful in its present drive for affiliation, would have an assured income of at least £lO,OOO a year from its 1/- a head charge upon unions. In his appeal for funds Air. Wilson says: "Vested interests are determined to nip in the bud the concessions and privileges granted to the workingclass by the present Government. Constitutional leagues and freedom leagues are traps for the unwary, but. given .sufficient money to contest 80 seats,' the return of the Labour Government is again assured. Children, the aged and infirm, and all victims of a vicious social system still need our care and assistance.” Mr. Denham & Invercargill Seat By Telegraph—Press Association. Invercargill, Alarch 22. An official announcement that Air. AV. Al. C. Denham, AI.P., Will again contest the Invercargill seat as a Labour candidate at the general election is expected in a day or two. It is understood that Mr. Denham will be the only nominee of Labour organisations in Invercargill.