FRIENDS OF THE SOVIET

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 93, 3 April 1934, Page 8

FRIENDS OF THE SOVIET

Opposed by Labour Party

WITHDRAWAL OF MEMBERS By Telegraph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, April 2. The Labour Party’s confeernce tonight decided to delete the proportional representation plank from its electoral platform. The National Executive favoured its retention, but four branches submitted remits requesting its deletion, and this proposition was carried.

The conference also decided that membership of the Friends of the Soviet Union is not compatible with membership of the New Zealand Labour Party.

At tho annual conference last year the executive was instructed to inquire into the authenticity of a circular issued by the Friends of the Soviet Union attacking members of the Labour Party. At the meeting to-night the National Executive reported that it had established its authenticity, and for this reason recommended the conference to declare as already stated.. There was a long debate, but the majority were in favour of the executive’s recommendation. Members of the party who are now members of the Friends of the Soviet Union are asked to withdraw from it. The conference also carried a resolution to remove all political disabilities of women. Tho main disability re maining is ineligibility for the Legislative Council, and the conference declared that this should be removed.