LABOUR PARTY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 67, 22 March 1929, Page 12

LABOUR PARTY

COMING CONFERENCE-

POLITICAL POSITION

Tho annual conference of tho New Zealand Labour Party will bo held in Wellington during the Easter holidays. .Delegates will attend from till parts oi' New Zealand, and the deliberations will extend over some days.

In view of the political position in .New Zealand it is likely that considerable attention will be paid to Labour's attitude during tho life of tho present Pjirliament. The Leader of tho Labour Parly (Mr. 11. .13. Holland) indicated in Parliament during the December session that tho parly would give the Government an opportunity of placing its proposals before Parliament and the country, and would support, such proposals as it"thought were for the beneiit of the people. It is not very likely that this altitude will be challenged by the confeivuoe, but possibly Mr. Holland will seek to have it endorsed in order to strengthen his hand. In any event, the general political position is certain to be tho subject of a lengthy discussion, for it is known that a section of Labour is no more favourable to the Ward Administration than the whole of the movement was towards the Coates Administration. Koccnt [>rououncemonts by the Prime Minister in regard to State enterprises have not helped towards a friendly understanding.

Tho conference is also likely to give serious attention to matters of organisation. It is known that the Labour movement made a big effort at the last General Election, and as a result its fighting fund was seriously depleted. Waj's and means of building up the fund will be considered, especially in view of the state of parties in Parliament and tho possibility of an appeal to th,e country before the end of three years. The Labour Party, it is stated, is no keener for a General Election than either of the other main parties, but it realises the necessity of being prepared for any eventualities.

It is understood that no radical changes in the party's policy are proposed this year. As usual, a number of remits have been forwarded by branches for tho consideration of the delegates, but it is stated that none of tho proposals is very far-reaching. In the event of an early election,, it is likely that the Labour Party will go to the country with much tho samo programme as in 1928. Although Labour gained ground at the last election, there is a feeling of disappointment that one or two stalwarts, notably Messrs. J. A. Leo and F. N. Bartram, fell by the wayside, and it is probable that the two electorates concerned — Auckland East and Grey Lynn—will receive special attention in the matter of organisation.

Should the Government decide to send representatives to. the International Labour Conference at Geneva, it is probable that the conference will be asked to consider the nomination of a delegato to represent Labour. Strictly speaking, the Labour Party Conference is not the body to make such a nomination, as it is a political and not an industrial organisation, but in view of the limited, time, precluding the holding of a national ballot, it is possible that the conference will make a decision.