LABOUR PARTY

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 94, 22 April 1935, Page 8

LABOUR PARTY

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

EYES ON GENERAL ELECTION

BID FOR POWEB'

The nineteenth annual conference of the New Zealand Labour Party opened in the Trades Hall today. Mr. H. T. Armstrong, M.P., presided. Inhere were 156 delegates present and it was expected that others would be arriving this afternoon. The conference will be in session until Wednesday ni|?ht. Mr. P. Fraser, M.P., president of: the Wellington Labour Representation Committee, in welcoming delegates arid wishing success to the conference, said' that the conference was a most important one, not only to the Labour Party, but to New Zealand as a whole. By common consent, not only amongst Labour supporters, but also amongst Labour's opponents, it was generally acknowledged that for the first time in its history, the Labour Party was within reasonable distance of becoming the Government of New Zealand. The realisation of that hope depended to a considerable extent on the deliberations, decisions, and wisdom oi the conference. EXECUTIVE'S REPORT. Mr. J. Thorn, national secretary, read the report of the national executive. "The past year," stated the report, "has been one of unexampled activity by the party, both in Parliament and in the country, and this has been particularly reflected in the number of national executive meetings held and by the ever-increasing amount of work performed by the national office. The party has again made rapid strides, and the future can be faced hopefully and confidently. Although much remains to be done before the General Election, the'^arty was never better organised or more united in the determination to win New Zealand for Labour. Under its present able leadership and with the united support of all members, this can undoubtedly be achieved. - "The number of party branches has increased from 156 to 182, but as a result of the depression and the practical abandonment of the Arbitration Court system, a number of the smaller unions have gone put of existence. Receipts from affiliation fees have been increased slightly during the year, and there are signs that the membership of unions is'now on the upgrade, and this should be reflected in the fees received during 1935-36. The new affiliations are as follows:—Unions: Timaru General' Labourers' Union, Nelson Carpenters' and Joiners' Union. Dunedin Printing Trades' Union, Canterbury General Labourers' Union, Kaikorai Cable Tramway Employees' Union, Southland Dairy Assistants' Union, New Plymouth Tramway Employees' Union, Otago Labour League.- Branches: Bulls, Belmont, Owaka, Mount Albert, Ormondville, Dannevirke, Roxburgh, Stratford, Vogeltown, Greytown, Otaki, Paraparaumu, Waikanae, Balclutha, Awahurl, Northern Wallace, Mosgiel, Featherston, Glenfield, Tuapeka Mouth, Duntroon, Rongotea, Pleasant Point, Te Horo, Warkworth, Tuahiwi (Maori), Brunner, Hornby-Islington, Kaitaia, Nightcaps, Christchurch Women's, Hutt Valley Women's, Milford, Christchurch North, Matata, Lismore, Karangahake, Manakau. In addition Labour representation committees have been formed in Clutha, Wairarapa, and Temuka. LABOUR'S PLAN. "In accordance with the resolution passed by the last conference, the business of this conference will be strictly confined to Labour's plan for New Zealand, the best means of attaining power, and the methods to be adopted to put Labour's plan into operation when, Labour sits on the Government benches.- As this is election year and the destiny of the party and of the working-class movement generally will depend upon the success achieved at the next General Election, it is fitting and proper that the deliberations of the conference should be confined to the subjects specified. Never in the history of New Zealand has so much depended upon the decisions arrived at by delegates, and it therefore behoves everyone to consider well and to bring an open mind and unbiased judgment to bear upon all questions, leaving aside all personal feelings, likes and dislikes, and being moved only by the desire to do that which is best for the achievement of our ideal —the establishment of a new social order in which production for profit will be abolished and production to supply the needs, physical and cultural, of the people will take its place. There never was a higher mission, there never was a time when it was more needed, there never was a time more opportune for its accomplishment. Let us be up and doing with a faith that knows no defeat until social ownership and control of the means of life.are obtained, and the brotherhood of man is an accomplished fact."

Mr. Armstrong addressed the gathering," and a report of his address appears under separate headings.