FOR UNITY

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 78, 29 September 1934, Page 8

FOR UNITY

NEW LABOUR MOVES

AUSTRALIAN FACTIONS

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, September 22.

Now that tho Federal Elections are over, with a very unsatisfactory result as far as the two Labour parties are concerned, the question of bringing about unity between tho rival factions has again come into prominence. It is realised on both sides that success in the Federal sphere can never come the way of Labour while tho sections are divided as they aro today—tho Lang Party paramount in New South Wales, and the old Federal Party still ruling in all tho other States. The Lang Party has vory definitely ousted the Federal Party from New South Wales politics, and it has played no small part in tho organisation of political Labour elsewhere, and the wedge it has inserted seems to have had a weakening effect.

Although there arc. still many difficulties in tho way of Labour unity, party leaders believe that this will be achieved early next year, and that tho New South Wales organisation will then be a branch of the Federal party, but the constitution of the latter will have been greatly altered before that takes place. The first of the new unity moves will be mado at the AllAustralian Union Congress which will open in Melbourne on October 8. Although the congress has been called primarily to deal with industrial matters, such as the restoration of wage cuts, the position within tho political wing of- tho Labour movement will be raised. It is expected that all' States will be represented. New South Wales always sonds a strong delegation to these- gatherings. The Union Congress will probably mako a strong demand on the political wing that unity should bo brought about on tho basis of the proposals that were adopted some time ago by the Victorian Labour Party Conference. The Federal Conference did not adopt tho Victorian proposals, which, however, were intended meroly as a basis for negotiations. At that conference negotiations with tho Lang Party failed. It is expected that another Federal Conference will be hold soon after the Union Congress, and this will probably send another invitation to Mr. Lang and his associates to send delegates. At tho present time Lang delegates have no standing iD the Federal party.

The main point on which there is bound to be difference of opinion will be the proposals to alter the constitution of tho Federal Labour Party and to alter tho basis of representation at 'Federal conferences. Tho Federal executive of the party would bo stripped of many powers and would become merely a secretariat. It is also suggested that the Federal Conference should consist of delegates from each State elected on a numerical basis, giving greater representation to tho larger States, instead of all being equal. As the Lang Party has hopes of securing control of the movement, it will press for this alteration as vital. As there is a growing demand among Labour bodies in all States for a more militant Labour Party, Mr. Lang might reccivo more support than is generally anticipated.