LABOUR CONFERENCE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 2 October 1925, Page 5

LABOUR CONFERENCE.

EMPIRE MATTERS. SHORT SHRIFT TO COMMUNISTS. sIY CABLE—PRESS UJSOCIATION —COP Y RIGHT LONDON, Sep. 30. At the Labour Party’s conference Mr Ramsay MacDonald, referring to the Communists-, said: “We knew yesterday’s decision would remove the attack from the floor of this conference to the street corners. We do not want the support of men who, when defeated, malign the whole Labour movement in order to serve their own purpose. Let us go on unmoved by these attacks.” Mr Gallacher interjected: “What about their support?” Mi - MacDonald: “We do not care a straw for their support. The kind of support we want is from men honest in their statements men who will stand by us. You will excuse this, but they have asked for it. I have referred to it only because I think it is time we faced these slanders.” Mr MacDonald admitted that the Labour Government made colossal mistakes. Some ruinous steps had been taken, but where was the party which within 10 months increased its vote by over 1,000,000? He trusted that there was now no doubt where the Labour Party stood and what would be undertaken as soon as the nation gave a majority to create a Labour Government. Following the short shrift given the attack on Mr MacDonald concerning the Zinovieff letter, his sudden change from mild-mannered placatory phrases to a rugged, hard-hitting onslaught created a great impression. Mr J. R. Clynes’ motion urging that steps should be taken, to ensure closer political and economic relationship in the Empire contained the .main . elements of the scheme which is attributed to Mr Philip Snowden when Chancellor of the Exchequer as Labour’s alternative to preference. It advocated the hulk purchase of Dominions’ food and raw materials, either by Government monopoly or by an organisation under its control, in order to ensure regularity of supplies and stability of prices. . ' Mr MacDonald, defending the sympathetic Labour attitude towards the Empire, said it might be consistent with Communism to talk about smashing the Empire, but it was very foolish in many ways. The Empire was a real Commonwealth. Queensland had more Socialist legislation than ever Russia thought about. He did not want a bosscontrolled Empire, but a Labour-con-trolled Commonwealth. This was possible if Labour chose to work. The conference rejected a motion by Mr Bevin that, in view of the experience of the recent Labour Government, it is inadvisable that the Labour Party should accept office without a majority in the House of Commons.