SEQUEL TO A "SOCIAL'

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 86, 11 April 1912, Page 8

SEQUEL TO A "SOCIAL'

LIBERAL PARTY AND LABOUR PARTY. "LABOUR ABSOLUTELY INDEPENDENT." Complete independence of the Labour party was again emphasised by some delegate*) at the New Zealand Labour Party's Conference to-day. The arrangements for speakers and the issuing of invitations at last night's eocial gathering, which included Ministers of th© Crown, led to brief but pointed discussion. Professor Mills introduced the subject by moving — "That this conference sincerely regrets the occurrence of last night and the unfortunate position into which the delegates were unwillingly placed, and suggests a. joint resolution of both bodies on the re-assembly of the Unity Conference." Mr. J. A. M'Cullough hoped the conference would support the motion. The matter must be discussed at the Unity Conference. He therefore thought it would be well for the Labour party to deal with, the question now in the way proposed. Professor Mills said tfye question of the invitations to tho "social" and the drawing up of the toast list would be sure to come up for discussion at the Unity Conference. The resolution he had moved simply affirmed the dissent of the Labour party in reference to the points he had indicated. The chairman (Mr. W. H. Hampton) said he was in full accord with the tennn of the motion, and lie thought it would b« wi&& if the conference adopted it. The attitude of the United Labour Party of New Zealand to other bodies should go forth in unmistakeable terms, and their relationship to all other Labour parties should be made clear. With reference to last night's "social," he might say that he was not on the committee which organised the arrangement of' tho programme of the "social. ' lie had always for an independent attitude on* the part of Labour. He hail sometimes got into hot water in consequence. He would never depart from the attitude he had always taken up. He had affirmed, nrid would continue to affirm, that the line of action of the 1 party in the political field must be absolutely free, independent, and untrammelled by any obligation, whether verbal or written, with any of the political parties in the Dominion. Mr.'D. M'Laren said that so far as that party wai concerned they were absolutely clear of sending cut, the, invitations to the "social." They liad right through agreed that the New Zealand Labour Party should be absolutely and entirely apart ' from any other party. Professor Mills said the arrangements at last night's "social" had placed him in a false position. The motion was carried without dissent.