N.Z. LABOUR PARTY

Grey River Argus, 16 April 1925, Page 2

N.Z. LABOUR PARTY

EXECUTIVES ANNUAL REPORT. WELLINGTON, April .15 The annual conference of the New Zealand Labour Party was opened with 105 delegates present. The. national president, Mr T. Brindle, occupied the chair. After reviewing the position generally, Air Brin dip reminded delegates that this year would see a general election in. New Zealand. They were there to lay the foundations of the first Labour Government, in this country. The industrial and political organisations of the working class had never been so closely bound together as they were at the present time, mainly due to the spread of economic, knowledge alongside the Reform Government's concern for the. wealthy section of the coma.uniry and their \rt ! :er disregard of the nemls and of the people os % whole. Ho hoped their delibemticns would bo made tn »be light |of *his fact, and when next they met it would be as the ruling political nuv in this country guiding the sojeial and industrial forces to content- ■ i mt and happiness for all. I - ; . • ■<"< ir e is considering a to<wl bn;...! down by the National . <('<•1111\ i <hr question of the forma lion of a co. .■ il for the consideration lof labour legislation. The function of the council would bo, says the report: (a i The preparat ion of legislation deal ing -with the industrial movement: (b) The examination and consideration of legislation introduced by iho Government or private members; (c) To convex' to the Parliamentary Labour Party the united opinion of the workers of the industrial movement of the Dominion; and (c) Generally to assist the Party to further the interests o! the working class. The report continues: A list of approved candidates has been in operation during the year. The executive considered nominations from all parts of the Dominion, and 120 members of the Party have been approved to date. A suggestion was abroad during the year that the Party was in some way responsible for the strike of railway servants in April last year, and on receipt. of a communication with regard h. this matter, the executive replied that, the Labour Parly had nothing whatever to do with the calling on of the strike, negotiations during the strike of calling off of the strike. Ail' that Ihe Party did was to do everything it possibly’ could to enable the A.S.R.S. to achieve victory. The executive 101 l that wheh any section of industrial workers was fighting for better conditions, the full resources of the Partv would be placed at its disposal. The president and secretary of the A.S.R.S. were communicated with, ..nd they replied stating that they were making it. clear to ail branches where they addressed meetings. that the Labour Party was in no way responsible for the strike. As instructed by delegates at the Ir-st annual conference, a political campaign was opened during the year, and at the time of writing £l4BO 13s (d hud been subscribed in connection ; with the fund, contributions of £3OO from the Federated Cooks and Stewards’ Union, £4OO from iho Waterside Workers’ Union had been received and promises representing £4.>4 from individuals in response to an appeal made in Wellington. Health. homos and land questions arc of prime importance, concluded the report. The horrors of overcrowding cannot be too strongly stressed. Tt is unnecessary to inform delegates of the ghastly housing conditions that prevail in mu- cities, but an example of a house of five rooms in Auckland m v.-hieh IS people reside illustrates the urgency of the matter. Two sleep in the washhouse, one in a shack in the yard, two on the verandah and thirteen others in the live rooms of the mam building. The position of the farmer on heavilv mortgaged land is more pre carious than ever, and a land policy built on the platform of the Party ..s the only means whereby those who till the land can be assured of payment for their labours. The working farmer Struggling to meet interest accounts on mortgages, workers in town and eountrv existing on a bare subsistence wage. Sufferers from industrial accidents whose income is reduced by 49 per cent, after accidents, and families overcrowding under most dcmoi alising conditions, are nil looking io Labour. The solution of our present land muddle, the provision of houses and the ensuring of the best, medical attention is Essentially dependent Labour’s obtaining office next December. New Zealand’s future is in Hie hands of those who will work and sacrifice that a new State may be Inuit, a State in which the aged shall be eared for. and the workers with hand and brain shall bo allowed to develop their creative faculties without the poison of self interest and aggrandisement or the bitterness of exploitation entering their souls. The eiecutive’s annual report detailed the action taken in protesting against the New Zealand Government contributing £100,060 towards the Singapore bas- scheme, and in sending a congratulatory cablegram to Mr. Ramsay MacDonald when the British Labour Government decided to drop the sehemo.

The conference confirmed the action of the delegates and pledged themselves to do all fin their power to / raise the election fighting funds asked I for bv the executive. It was decided that, the political sit-

nation did not permit of a New Zealand deleglMtei ntynjdin;;- .the Bntijsh Commonwealth Conference in London in July. For some time past the Labour Party has been very active throUK'hont the Dominion. The party has a very good organisation, and is endeavouring to get a fighting fund in view of the elections this year. Some little time ago this fund amounted to £l4BO. It is stated that- never before has such enthusiasm been shown in connection Iwith the fund. In response to an appeal made on March 22nd. contribu’tions of £3OO were voted by the Federated Cooks’ and. Stewards’ Union, and £4.00 by the Wellington Waterside Workers’ Union, while from individuals have come promises of £434.