VITAL ISSUES WILL BE DISCUSSED AT TWO LABOUR CONFERENCES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22620, 24 April 1948, Page 6

VITAL ISSUES WILL BE DISCUSSED AT TWO LABOUR CONFERENCES

(S.R.) . WELLINGTON, April 23. A year of industrial trouble with strained relations between the industrial and political wings of the Labour movement will make conferences at Dunedin of outstanding interest. Delegates are on their way to the Federation of Labour conference, which commences on Tuesday.

The conference will last throughout the week. It will be followed by the much larger conference of the Labour Partv commencing the following Monday,'May 3. It is the first to be held outside of Wellington for 14 yearsSever, hundred delegates are expected. The Federation of Labour conference is the more important as a factor in reconciling, if possible, the differences which have caused friction with the Parliamentary section because it will include a strong force of militants who arc considered to be responsible for the position. Much Plain Speaking There is likely te be a considerable amount of plain speaking at the federation conference, which will be addressed by the Prime Minister, M P. Fraser, the Minister of Labour. Mr. A. McLagan, and the Minister of Works. Mr. R. Semple. The defeat of Communists in union elections in the north has given the moderates confidence that they will win in the national arena. The Labour Cabinet’s&policy regarding price control and stabilisation will come under keen, critical scrutiny. The federation also has its own particular controversy to settle, this relating to the proposed change in the

method of selecting its national executive, whether the present system ot representation based on trades and labour councils should be replaced by the direct election of members from groups of trade unions. Government policy is being critically raised in a remit to consider "the serious disparity between the old aue pensions and M.P.’s superannuation.” Will Proceed on More Placid Lines The atmosphere should have been cleared before the opening of the Labour Party’s conference and this is likely to proceed on more placid lines owing to the fact that the delegates are pledged supporters of the party and Communists are not to be included. The Prime Minister will submit a report from the Parliamentary Labour Party and he will be supported in his explanations of policy by members of Cabinet. The large number of remits are subject to a preliminary review by a committee with the object of avoiding duplication. They include a proposal for the direct election of Cabinet by "arty caucus, an age limit for Parliamentary candidates and a review of Parliamentary salaries, and that the Legislative Council should be replaced by an elected Senate.