LABOUR NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 23, 27 January 1912, Page 14

LABOUR NOTES.

, (By "Unionist.") ; COMMONWEALTH ' LABOUR ; • PLATFORM. As finally adopted by the Federal Labour .Conference.' at Hobart last week, the plattorni of tho Commonwealth Labour Party, on which the next Federal elections will be fought, 1 is as follows :—: — 1. Maintenance of a White Australia. 2. Maintenance of graduated tax on unimproved land values where estates are over £5000 in value. 3. Effective Federation. The inclusion in the Constitution of the powers asked for on 26th April, 1911. 4. The new protection. 5. Nationalisation *of monopolies. " '6. Arbitration ; Cotirt ' Amendment. 7.^ Navigation laws. 8. Commonwealth freight and passenger steamers. 9. Restriction of public borrowing. 10. General insurance department, with non- political 'management. 11. Commonwealth, sugar refinery, 12." Civil equality of men and women. 13. Naval and military expenditure to ibe allotted from proceeds of direct taxation. 14. Initiative and referendum. 15. Uniform laws of marriage and divorce. Ac anticipated in this column, no drastic departure" or real change 4of policy has been determined upon. Some former planks have been removed from the "fighting platform" and placed iv the general programme of the party as "planks made law." These include : Old-age and. invalid pensions, Graduated tax on unimproved land values, Citizen defence force, with, compulsory military training and an Australian owned and controlled navy, 'Commonwealth bank, and Electoral reform. "Effective Federation" i 6 really the first plank of the platform for election purposes; tbe preceding items are in relation to tbe maintenance of something already existing. The sense of the plank is that Labour everywhere throughout the ' States shall fight for extended Commonwealth powers. It means the of the referendum issues; it means that all the State Labour members shall work for the carrying of tho issues -when next they are submitted to the people. Two new industrial items have been added to the electoral programme — Commonwealth freight and passenger service, and Commonwealth sugar refineries. Like four of the other planks— namely, New protection, Nationalisation of monopolies, Arbitration Act, and Navigation laws — these two planks can only be given effect to by getting tho wider powers sought; hence 'the importance of the conference's determination in reference to the referendum matters. Mr. Fisher is delighted with the conference. Interviewed by a Labour pressman, ho said : — "The conference haa laid/ down basic principles for future legislation, the, political side of which will have to' be presented to the people of the Commonwealth before effect can be given to these principles. On the referendum for' seeking enlarged powers, 1 need only say again that the possession of these powers is absolutely necessary to ipund progressive legislation, and to enable us to carry out the functions of a Federal system of government in. a manner in keeping with the importance of the Commonwealth. I am gratified more than I can find words to express that a number of delegates who entered the conference thinking the powers asked ' •for Were' not all necessary, supported, both by speech and vote, tho proposals when they had been explained. Generally' they, admitted that the arguments put forward had convinced- them that,- in the/ interests of good '. government, *it was necessary that the* Oo'nimonWeajth should 'haVe the powers asked for Cat the referendum. I would like the people to remember that the powers are wanted for Parliament, not for the Labour party. While I believe, that these powers are for the good of the Commonwealth, they need not be 1 exercised if the people bo desire it. I am convinced beyond any doubt that the giving of these powers will not in any way injure' the States or retard their progress." The Sydney Worker is equally enthusiastic. After approving of the inclusion of the shipping and sugar refinery proposals, it concludes an editorial in praise of the work of the conference thus :—"lt: — "It was a gathering composed entirely of working men — of men who had been chosen by their tfellow-workers from mine and mill, and shed and shop, to make laws for the well-being of the nation. There was among them none who enjoyed a privileged position by the accident _of birth, or derived any aid from social station or special educational advantages. - Yet with such, innate sagacity did they grasp the needs of the situation, with such enlightened foresight did they indicate the true line of national development, that the future chroniclers o* Australia must of necessity accord them an honourable place among the builders of the nation— among those who laid the foundations of such a democracy triumphant a» the world has not yet seen." ITEMS OF INTEREST. The Miramar branch of the New Zealand Labour Party, which worked its distinct so successfully during the recent elections, hae continued its activity eincp in the direction of local civic \ politics. Eecently it has agitated for the application of rating on unimproved values in connection with the 1 water and drainage scheme assessments. A member of the Borough Council has been induced to join the branch, and efforts are being made to influence other members on the council. Before next council election ths branch hopes to be in a position to ensure the return of at leaet' four Labour councillors for the district. Meetings of the branch are held regularly, and new members are enrolled at each meeting night. A succession of winter entertainments and lectures has been arranged for,' and in the meantime two Town Hall concerts are to be held under the branch auspices. The Barrier itiners' Union recently took a ballot of its members on the following issue:— "Are you in favour of all members of the A.M.A. ceasing work for one shift along the line of lode, in the event of a member being killed in or on any mine?" There were only 479 votes cast in favour of ceasing work, while 1486 members voted "No " to the question. r ? he E £ rl y cloein S Act passed by the Labour Government of South Australia during last session will come into operation on the let of ' next, month. It is a comprehensive measure, covering all ebrte of retail establishments, . and one which extends many benefits to assistants. It fixes, a strict closing. time-^6 p.m/on week days,, and 9 p.m. on the day. of -ths late night. The Saturday half-holiday is made compulsory for the metropolitan area of the State. Certain classes of shops are exempted, but only from the closing hour regulations. Unfair competition between closed anfl lato closing shops is prevented. Exempted goods may be sold, without restriction ac to closing time, from an exempted shop, but if after the closing time for non-exempt shops any non-exempt goods are sold, offered, or exposed for sale, then- the shop where such goods are. sold, offered,, or exposed for, sale shall 'not bo an exempted shop on that day, and'the keeper of such exempted shop becomes liable, to, the same penalties as other shopkeepers, who sell the' 1 claes of non-exempt goods., •old by «uch shopkeeper of a noa-ex«mpt fhop, . - - -