LABOUR PARTY

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 126, 21 February 1941, Page 5

LABOUR PARTY

Easter Conference To Open On April 14

LARGE NUMBER OF REMITS

About 700 delegates are expected to attend the twenty-fifth annual conference of the New Zealand Labour Party, which will open in the Wellington Town Hall on Easter Monday, April 14. The agenda contains 1023 remits, covering an extremely wide range of current topics. Thirty-five nominations have been received for the live positions on the central executive. War finance and banking policy are the subjects of a series •of remits. Among them are such matters as use of the national credit: the taking over of all trading banks and/or the Bank of New Zealand; monetary policy for next election;' 1 per cent, tax on idle money in banks; guaranteed prices for ail primary products; abolition of excess profits tax and substitution of capital levy; maximum income of £500; overhaul of taxation laws. Under the group relating to defence, peace and war are suggestions that there should be (1) unreserved support for the Home Guard: (2) conscription for the Home Guard; and (3) abolition of the Home Guard. Among other proposals are equalization of payments to soldiers’ dependants, irrespective of rank: postwar use of military camps for mothers with families: democratic control of armed forces: Government manufacture of uniforms: alteration in personnel of War Cabinet: economic policy independent of Great Britain: war aims, peace terms, collective security, total disarmament, conference of democratic nations, conference of Pacific nations: independent outlook on international affairs: plebiscite vote of conquered nations after the war. Returned Soldiers.

Several remits deal with the rehabilitation of returned men into industry, one proposal being that the Government prepare :t detailed plan for post-war mass immigration and planned 'industrial and primary expansion.

It is evident that there is a widespread desire in Labour Party branches for an extension of the benefits under the Social Security Act. Here are some more of the proposals to lie considered :—

Provide full Social Security benefits to hospital patients; pay hospital outpatients' fees for pensioners: abolish out-patient fees: extend Social Security benefits to housewives and til! women at 55 years: extend benefits to unmarried mothers: provide Social Security benefits to recipients of workers' i-ompensation and private payments; pay full benefits to Imperial military pensioners: increase pension payments and allowable incomes, also provide for fortnightly payments: provide rest homes for people suffering loss of memory and senile decay : abolish means test; appoint workers' representatives in Social Security offices.

A particularly large number of affiliations have forwarded remits dealing with electoral reform. the proposals made including the abolition of the country quota: Parliamentary franchise for local body elections, and alternative systems of voting for elections—lD preferential voting, (2t proportional represent alion. t3t second ballot. ('ompiilsort voting also urged.

Opposing viewpoints are shown in remits relating to the Legislative Council, one urging that tin- council

be abolished and another that women be appointed as members. Uno remit proposes that Ihe voting age should be lowered Io IS or 11) years. Election of Officers. Particular interest attaches to the contests for the various offices at this conference, all of which are decided on the preferential voting system. The present occupant of the office of national president is Mr. James Roberts. He lias again been noniiiitiled. and other eoiiteslanls for the office tire Dr. McMillan,. M.P.. Mr. Richards. M.P., and Mr. P. Martin Smith. Dr. McMillan at present holds Ihe olfiee of vice-president, for which he has again been nominated. There are 12 oilier contestants for tins position, as follows: The Rev. Clyde Carr. M.P., Mr Roswell. M.P.. Mr. Combs, Ml’.. Mr. Coleman. M.P.. Mr. J. 0. Johnson. Mr. Lowry, M.P., Mr R. Macdonald, Mr. Xordmeyer. M.P.. Mr. O Brien. M.P.. Mr. Richards, M.P.. Mr. James Roberts and Mr. Robertson. M.P. The secretary-treasurer. Mr. M. Moohan. has been nominated by a large number of organizations. I liete are two other contestants tor lite position. Messrs. W. L. Robertson, and J. A. Stead.

There is exceptionally keen competition for tin- five positions on the eeib tnil ■ executive. no fewer than 3o nominations having been received. The present members are Mr. Brindle. M.L.C., Mr. I’. Dowse. Mr. 11. Eddy. Mrs. M. Semple, ami Mr. Wilson, M.L.C.. till of whom have been nominated for re-election.

The other aspirants are Messrs. I'. C. Allerby, K, Baxter. J. Blewman. H. Burrell. E. Canham. Chapman, M.P., J. G. Churchill. .1. 11. Collins. Combs. M.P., A. W. Croskery, A. M. Edwards. G. Farrow, I’. A. Hansen. Mrs. Ethel Harris. Mr. C. J. Hay. Mrs. M. Hayman. Messrs. R. Holland. J. O. Johnson. E. H. Langford. McKeon. M.P.. I'. G. Moleswortlt, Mrs. D. Palmer, Mi’A. Parlane. Mrs. B. Reid. Messrs. J. Roberts. A. Shearer, J. A. Stead. Mrs. Stewart. M.P.. Mr. S. Thompson, atul Mrs. G. Ellsworth.