N.Z. LABOUR UNITY

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 October 1945, Page 2

N.Z. LABOUR UNITY

MR. LEE’S OLIVE BRANCH. WELLINGTON, October 23. A demand is reported to have arisen within the ranks of the Labour Party for unity among all political Labour forces, including the Democratic Labour Party. It is understood that the Otago Trades and Labour Council, Auckland Trades and Labour Council, Auckland and Wellington Waterside Workers Unions, and several party branches have asked that attempts be made to achieve this unity before the next election. The proposal is likely to become an important issue at the conference next month of the New Zealand Labour Party. Mr. J. A. Lee, leader of the Democratic Labour Party, who has been in Wellington attending a conference ol his party, was asked what his reaction would be if a resolution for unity were passed at the Labour Party conference. “I' do not think such a resolution will be carried,” Mr. Lee said, “but I think that if it were and an honest effort to investigate the matter were made, the party which refused would forfeit radical support at the coming election. The charge of vote-splitting will be made against those who refuse to consider the matter. In his report of the proceedings of the Democratic Labour Party conference, Mr. Lee referred to the proposals for unity. He said he had told the conference that in his opinion no attempt at rapproachment was likely to be made by any other radical partv, but that if such a gesture were honestly made the Democratic Labour Party would be wise seriously to consider it, as a charge that the paity was responsible for splitting the Labour vote would be made in the days ahead. Many delegates said they believed that the effort to reach unity of radical groups would, be mad° by big sections of the Trades Union Movement. The Party did not vote on any resolution, but decided that an active campaign would be ooened in the New Year. ‘Mr. Lee said he intended to engage in a New Zealand tour early next year. , ~ , .... The Party endorsed the abolition of the country quota, nationalisation o f +he Bank of New Zealand and the commencement of the endowment of family, Mr. Lee said. He added that all of these had appeared m the Democratic Labour Party s 1943 manifesto. The following officers were elected: President, L. Frame; vicepresident. Mrs. J. A. Lee; secretary, F. M. Earle: executive: J. A. Lee, Norman Douglas, L. Vheailey, H. Vaughan and G. Blackler.