N.Z, LABOUR PARTY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 90, 31 March 1932, Page 8

N.Z, LABOUR PARTY

SERIES OF DEMONSTRATIONS FIRST in WELLINGTON. GOVERNMENT ATTACKED. Wellington, March 30. Arguments along the lines of thosi recently used in Parliament by Labour critics of the Government’s policy measures were repeated from the platform of the Wellington Town Hall this evening, when the first of a sei ies of demonstrations was held under the auspices of the New Zealand Labour Party. Seven speakers, including the Leader of the Opposition, Mr H. E. Holland, addressed the meeting, at the conclusion of which a lengthy resolution was carried condemning the policy and administration of the Coalition Government. Every seat in the building was occupied, while a large number of people who were unable to obtain seating accommodation stood around the dooi ways and along the walls both in the gallery and on the ground floor. In addition to the speakers delegates at tending the annual conference of the Labour Party, Labour members of Parliament and other prominent figures in the Labour movement had places on the platform. Quite a large section was unable to gain admission at all. and these went to the concert chamber, where they were later addressed by several speakers.

FIRST OF A SERIES. Mr Fraser, M.P. for Wellington Central, presided. He said that the present meeting was the first of a series of similar demonstrations to be held throughout the Dominion. The demonstrations were being held so that the voice of organised Labour and the people as a whole could be heard against the policy of the Coalition Government. The first speaker was the newlyelected president of the New Zealand Labour Party, Mr W. J. Jordan, M.P . (Manakau) This evening’s meeting was an inspiration to the Labour movement to go forward, he said. They were living in a competitive, selfish order of things, and the present arrangement had failed to meet the needs of the day. The secretary of the Alliance of Labour, Mr J. Roberts, said that they were threatened in New Zealand by a Government which appeared to be more concerned for the interests of people overseas than the citizens of the Dominion. The funds subscribed by the Now Zealand people to meet the needs of unemployment had been maladministered. If wages were reduced by an other five per cent, and the Prime Minister carried out the policy he suggested at Christchurch the other day, there would not be bankruptcy for one or two, but for scores of business men throughout the Dominion. The people could not allow the triumphant beast called the Government to trample over them any longer. They could no longer do it by pious resolutions, but only by determination and by telling the Government that they would not stand it any longer. Mr Semple, M.P. for Wellington East, said that Labour was not going to let up until it had relegated the ForbesCoates Government to the backwash of political oblivion. The Government had gone the limit and it was for them to say “get out.’’ Mrs W. Herbert, of Dunedin, said that the lowering of the wages of the working men would not help primary producers. The workers were the best spenders. She appealed to women to join up with the Labour Party. Mr E. Kennedy spoke on behalf of the Trades and Labour Council.

“DECLARATION OF WAR.” Mr J. A. Lee, M. P. for Grey Lynn, said that the meeting that night was a declaration of war on the part of the Labour Party and the trade union movemeut. They had to arouse public opinion and the moral indignation of the people. The old orthodox methods were done, and they would have to use new methods or perish. “I am convinced,’’ he said, “that we can compel this Government to mitigate the severity of its policy. If we put our energies into this agitation and organise we can bring about the downfall of this hideous Government altogether.’’ applause greeted Mr H. E. Holland when he rose Ho referred to the increase in the aggregate numbci of votes cast for Labour at the recent general election, but said that it was equally true that thousands of workers voted for the Coalition, and to-day they were paying the price for the mistaki made on that occasion. The Labour Party had fought the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill, but in the latter end of the present session there would be a far more strenuous fight when they would be faced with wage reductions. The Labour Party would fight and light to the last ditch, as they did on the In dustrial Conciliation and Arbitral’ Bill and on the wage reduction proposals in 1931. The 24 Labour members in Parliament could not oust the Government, but the people of New Zealand could do a great deal in that direction by the force of public opinion. The Labour Party and industrial organisations were giving a lead in opposing the Government’s proposals but that would be ineffective without unity of action and solidarity of organisation throughout the country.

THE LABOUR CONFERENCE Wellington, March 30. Auckland was chosen as the venue of next year’s annual conference of the New Zealand Labour Party by the delegates at to-day’s session of the conference. The following central executive was elected: Mr K. Semple, Sir Nesbit Armstrong, Hon. M Fagan. Mr T. Brindle, Mr A. Parlane. The following resolution was carried: “That a special sub-committee be set up to investigate and report to the National Executive upon the problems of wheat production, prices and duties, and the production, distribution and prices of flour, with a view to cheapening wheat, flour and bread to consumers while ensuring standard wages to wheat farm employees and an adequate return to wheat farmers, and also to investigate and report upon the primary production and expoi t prices generally, with a view to formulating a policy for the stabilisation of the incomes of bona fide working farmers en-g-'g<’d in I'rini-irv pi-O'li’ctlon. ’