NEW CONSTITUTION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 87, 12 April 1912, Page 7

NEW CONSTITUTION.

UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY NEW ZEALAND LABOUR PARTY

A chorus of apprival greeted a motion moved by Mr. W. H. Hampton, president of tho New Zealand Labour Party Conference, to-day, adopting tho Unity Cons stitution. Tho motion read :— " That the conference accept as a conference and' promiso to loyally adhere to and do its utmost to bring into full operation the constitution and decisions of the United Labour Party Conference, which has J"ust closed." Mr. R. Slater (Dunedin), in. seconding the motion, said their difficulty was to bring the working men into line ; it was not their opponents. When this difficulty was overcome tho party would achieve success. Tho speaker presided over the uret conference twenty-one years ago, when Mr. W. P. Reevee recommended Mr. Tregear as the head of the Labour Department. This was endorsed by tho delegates, and Mr. Tre-, gear had done exceedingly well. Mr. Tregear acknowledged > the compliment paid him. Mr. J. A. M'Cullough said he had been connected with many movements to solidify the workers, and he was verv\ glad to know that this was being accomplished. This alone compensated him for being out of the direct fight. He was eatisfied that the party was . going to capture the rome of Government, and rule what would become a great nation., The fact that the constitution allowed' any useful person to enter was tho hope, of the future. He had never seen anys thing which made him bo proud a* to see Labourites sitting from 9 o'clock on one morning to 3 o'clock the next, and devoting their full attention to uuch important proposals. Mr. Roeenfeldt (Woodville) expressed his pleasure that the farmers had awakened to the fact that they nitost ba represented in the Labour movement. (Hear,hear.) Mr. Hunter (Christchurch South) said there had never been a Liberal-L&boui> alliance, and the success attained in the last few days was owing to tho party'is. absolute independence. (Hear, hear.) Mr. J. Smith said an organisation had' been formed which would make history. Mr. W. J. Jordan (Wanganui) declared that if they got off their horse to kick at every little dog which barked at them, they would not go far. Maaiy little dogs would be found snarling at them, but they were on too good a horse to get off. Mr. D. M'L&rai said ho greatly appreciated the move they had taken. On all sides they had met men and women bent, not on securing their own ends but the fulfilling of .the duty cost upon! them. The Labour Party, m speaking on behalf of the democracy, was not speaking for an abstraction. If the party could make the environment of life for children better, a great work would be- ! accomplished. ("HVar, hear.") He appreciated the kindness of a section of the electors of this city, who gave him a holiday so that he could go in for organising work. A Labour man. was of no use unless lie would leave his seat for his principles. (" Hear, hear.") The movement was always above tho private individual. A big forward stride had been made in tho last four years, and now they had the unifying work of Pi-o-fessor Mills. (Applause.) The message could go out to the workers that there was hope for them in the coming yoar6. The motion was carried unanimously; ainidsfc applause. It was also decided-— " That it be a recommendation to the delegates of the New Zealand Labour Party to urg« the desirableness of passing resolution* of congratulation and endorsement of the action of the National Administrative Council in assisting to bring to a successful issue the proposals contained in 1 the Unity scheme. ' A motion setting up a board of control (to consist of the National Administrative Council) with instructions to reviso rules bringing them into conformity with, the decisions ol the United Labour Party! Conference and give effect to those den cisions as far ac they applied to this organisation, was adopted.