A POLITICAL LABOR LEAGUE

Evening Star, Issue 12308, 24 September 1904, Page 2

A POLITICAL LABOR LEAGUE

ITS PLATFORM AND CONSTITUTION. A FORCE IN* POLITICS. [Fitrai Oce PA&tiMmfi&i Retoeteb.] WELLINGTON, September 24. The Trades and Labor Councils of New Zealand some months ago, in conference in Christchurch, decided upon the formation of an Independent Labor party. The details were lett to a special committee, who have been sitting for some days in Wellington, and have now drafted a . constitution and " fighting platform" for a new party, to be known as the Political Labor League of New" Zealand. This platform was last night approved m its entirety by. the Wellington Trades Council. The first conference of the new League will be held in Wellington next Easter. —The National Fighting Platform.— 1. State Bank.—Tno establishment of a State Bank, with the sole right of note issue/ which shall be legal tender. 2. Land Reform.—The abolition of the sale of Crown lands? periodic revaluation of all Crown lands held on lease; resumption of land for closer settlement, to be at owner's valuation for taxation purposes, plus 10 per cent.; tenants' absolute nght to their improvements. 3. Local Government Reform.—The parliamentary, franchise to apply to the olections of all local bodies. Every elector to have the right to vote on all questions .submitted to a poll. 4. Economic Government.—The Referendum, with tho initiative in the hands of the people; the abolition of the JJvvet House; an Elective Executive. 5. Stautory preference of employment to unionists. 6. Cessation of borrowing except for redemption and for the completion of works already authorised by Parliament. 7. Nationalisation.—The establishment of, State ironworks} the nationalisation of all mineral wealth; the establishment of State woollen and flour-mills ana Clothing and boot factories. [Note: Labor candidates shall have" a' free hand on the liquor and fiscal questions.] The League have also —A Municipal Platform,— which contains the following planks : 1. One vote only for each adult resident. 2. Polls to be open to 8 p.m. 3. Mayors and councillors to be paid if approved by a plebiscite vote of the electors. 4. The unification of municipalities around large centres of population. 5. Municipalities,- jointly of severally, to be empowered to own and directly conduct for use any industry or service deemed desirable by plebiscite vote of electors. All works undertaken by the municipalities to be executed try the Council without the intervention of contractors and trade union wages to be paid. 6. All rates to be struck on the unimproved value' of lands within each district. . 7. Power to acquire, the title to and power to lease, but not to sell, any lands on which rates are overdue and unpaid for a period of five years; provided that the owner may recover possession 6ri payment of all rates and accrued interest thereon. 8. Quinquennial valuation by the owner, arid,- in case of the municipality being dissatisfied with sdeb. valuation, to be empowered to resume at such valuation, plus 10 per cent. 9. Compulsory power to acquire gas or electric lighting. Works. 10. Power by initiative td demand a vote on any policy proposal of a local governing body. The League jwifl ask, their candidates to Sigh the following pledge : 1 hereby. pledge myself riot to oppose the selected candidate of this or any other branch of, the Political Labor League. I also pledge myself, if returned to Parliament-,- off all Occasions to do my utmost to ensure the carrying out of the. principles ombpdied in the Labor platform, and on all such questions, arid especially 6ri. questions affecting the fate of a Government, to vote as a. majority bt the L.abor paftv may decide' at .a duly-coristitatea caucus meeting. I ffirther pledge mvSelf not to retire from the contest without the consent of the Executive of the Political Labor League of New Zealand, and if elected shall as.fat as possible place my services at the disposal of tho League for organising purposes. The membership' of the new party is to consist of persons over eighteen vears of age,, but only those, over twenty-one years of age will be eligible to vote for candidates. All members will be pledged to loyally support the League.. The yearly subscription is to be 2s for. men and Is for women, and financial member& of trades unions half rates. Where only one,branch exists in an electorate it. shall be known 4s ah electorate branch. Where more thari one branch 6xists in, an electorate councils may be formed. District assemblies may also be formed. The Executive, thr6ugh at least one local pstpef, and by instruction fo their seceretary, may, after hearing the body implicated in explanation, declare any branch electorate, council, of district assembly disbanded for disloyalty to the olattofm of disobedience' to tho Executive's decision. The furids of the League are to be applied to the expenses of political and municipal work only. The Executive will consist of a president, general secretary, and ten members elected by. the annual conference. Any Liberal member, of Parliament or local body shall have' the right of attendance and speech .at all special arid general meetings. The latter body is to suitimon triennial conferences of the delegates. Branches or councils having twentv-five members may select their own candidate, and where two candidates have been elected an exhaustive ballot is to be taken. . Any ffleriib'ef of . ex-member of the Lfcajjuo opposing a League candidate at i. parliamentary election is to be disqualified from being selected for the four years next following. All nominations 6f candidates to contest parliamentary or municipal elections must be Submitted ib the Executive f6r endorsement before going to a foalloty arid any candidate personally canvassing for votes will be disqualified for selection. No Labor call sign the pledge of any Other pa"rty. Candidates are to be selected three fnoilths prior to & par: liamentary election. Members elected under the auspices of the Leagrie are" to' form a distinct partv, and no member of the Labor party can join any Ministry riot mainly composed of members of their own body. The Committee who drafted the constitution, etc., give advice on how, to organise a leagtie, and conclude with this adihonitory note.:—" Labor in politics does not seek the advantage of a class or section of the community, but the

tad municipal action. The well-being 61- each is the concern of all. Educate, organise, agitate."