LABOUR'S CLEAN-UP

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 136, 9 June 1923, Page 6

LABOUR'S CLEAN-UP

Though the trouble in the New South Wales Labour Party began with the demand for a clean-up of the movement, it is scarcely safe to prophesy that such a clean-up will be carried out. The old executive has been routed, and the would-be dictators are .thus banished from the field; but they may attack again. The cable messages do not tell us of any measures for alteringthe method of electing the executive ; and possibly reformers, having now gained possession of the machinery of control, will lose their enthusiasm for reform. Their desire when out of office was for an election system which would assure to the rank and file of the Labour movement thai; power of control which would effectually hobble any dictator. If they do introduce such a system they will be displaying considerable courage, for they will be discarding the means by which they themselves attained office in favour of a system which may put them out again. Such disinterested action is not common in political parties. Even if such a new method were proposed and brought into operation it is doubtful whether it would achieve its purpose. No matter what pains are taken to assure a right of expression there will always be difficulty in inducing men to exercise that right. It is this apathy that leads so often to extremist domination. Unsound as the views of extremists are, those views are usually held tenaciously and advanced vigorously. The man of moderate opinion is too often possessed also of only moderate energy. Until enthusiasm becomes associated with moderation as well as with extremism we may expect to see Labour conferences dominated by loud shouters instead of clear thinkers.