Opposed To Hereditary Tides, Party Decides

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 May 1949, Page 2

Opposed To Hereditary Tides, Party Decides

WELLINGTON, This Day.—The Labour Government is opposed to hereditary titles. This was made clear during a brief debate on one of the remits before the annual conference of the Labour Party this morning. The remit was that the practice of making recommendations . for civil titles or decorations be discontinued. By a large majority this remit was endorsed so far as hereditary titles are concerned. Mr P. Kearins (M.P. for Waimarino), moved an amendment that the original remit be reinstated and this was lost by a large vote on a show of hands. About one-third of the 600 delegates supported Mr Kearins. A proposal that a national theatre be established was referred to the Government for favourable consideration when practicable. A suggestion that normal weekday entertainment be permitted on Sunday was rejected, it being pointed out that this matter was under the control of local bodies. This remit was advanced by an Auckland delegate and supported by Hastings. It was explained that the object was to ch&ck vandalism and keep people off the streets. The conference had before it two remits, one from the Green Lane branch, Auckland, and the other from the Gisborne L.R.C. They suggested that a committee of the conference consider and report regarding: (A) that with a view to making available a less biassed selection of news the activities of the Press Association be investigated, and (B) that a system of licensing the press be instituted. The official spokesman for the. conference said that there was no discussion on the remits, which the committee and conference had both unanimously rejected. A number of remits dealing with education were considered by the conference, which decided that the Government be recommended to consider making grants to each new school to meet the initial establishment expenses, that it investigate the establishment of special schools for emotionally disturbed children, that it encourage community centres such as those which are already receiving financial assistance and that the Heward farm group survey scheme now operating at Whangarei be recommended to the Government. The conference had no recommendation to make regarding the extension of the hours of parliamentary broadcasts, but referred to the Government for consideration' a suggestion that Parliament be broadcast also from one South Island Y.A. station.