LABOUR IN N.S.W.

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 103, 4 May 1933, Page 11

LABOUR IN N.S.W.

CHALLENGE TO SOCIALISM

RIVAL POLICIES

(From "The Post's" Representative.) • SYDNEY, ■ April 27. The move of the Xcw South "Wales branch of the Federal Labour Paity, sin organisation, it should bo understood, quite distinct from that controlled by Mr. Laug, to jottisou the socialisation of industry objective for the old objective of collective ownership of monopolies and the extension of the economic and industrial functions of the State aud municipalities, is a direct challenge to ' the socialisation elements of the Federal Labour Party. It will be a fundamental issue at.'the Federal Couferenco of the Labour Party, which will be held in Sydney at tho end of June. This is the first tjme since 1921 that the socialisation objec-. tive of the Labour Party has been seri- 1 ously challenged by an important unit of the organisation, and the New South Wales decision again raises tho issues, which have proviously been the subject of n struggle between the two wings of the Labour movement. In 1021 tlie Federal executive of tho Labour Party, in the belief that tho industrial and political wings of the Labour Party were rapidly drifting apart summoned tho first All-Australian Union Congress, which, was to make proposals fo tho Federal Conference of the party. At the All-Australian Conference an elaborate scheme to bring about tho socialisation of industry was adopted/Later tho Federal conference of the party in Brisbano adopted a socialisation objective to be achieved by constitutional means. Some of the'details of the methods to be adopted to- secure the objective have been ' slightly amended since, but in effect they are the same as those approved at tho Queensland Conference. One method is "the extension of the scope and powers of tho Commonwealth Bank until complete control of banking is in tho hands of tho people." Tho moderate wing of the Labour Party has acquiesced in this objective all these years, and it never Ijecame an issue at Labour conferences again until recently, when dotennined moves in all States by the "advanced" wings to make socialisation the light- j ing plank of the platform again re- j venled differences of opinion. The more moderate wing, while not challenging the objective, has poin'tod out that the Labour Party must continue to be a reformist party- if" it is to . succeed politically, Now; however, the New South Wales branch has issued a challenge by moving for the return to the old objective. Tho six Now , South 'Wales delegates to the Federal Conference will, of course, bo bound to j support tho State's proposal. Tho January conference of tho Victorian Labour Party did not alter the present; objective, so tho six Victorian delo-J gates will have ito vote against the change. Thoro will be six delegates froni each State,-and where delegates have not been actually bound they will have a free hand. It is recognised ■by all sections thn't a blinking scheme is vital to all .socialisation objectives, and tho Victorian Conference adopted a report of a banking .committee, and that report will goon to tho Federal Conference. ' The conuuittco proposed that - a Commonwealth Credit Board should bo establishod to control all the credit organisations, to maintain" a reasonable stability at an equitable lovel y and to act in an advisory capacity to the Commonwealth Government. It was also proposed tliat the Commonwealth' Bank should bo vested -with tho complcto control of all currency and financial credit, as determined by tho Commonwealth Credit Board, and with tho administration of all other functions of the monetary system. Tho vital difference between the Victorian banking .scheme- and the banking proposals of the Lang Party in Now South Wales is that the Victorian, scheme really provides for tho elimination of.-private banking by, competition, whereas the Lang Party scheme is confiscatory. Tho New South Wales branch of tho Federal Labour Party has before it'a ■third scheme which would eliminate private banking by compensation. - Labour policies, factions, and personalities arc very much in the melting pot in -Australia atj present. Is it any wonder that the party is losing ground?

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