Manawatu Evening Standard. WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1924. LABOUR'S FIGHTING FUND.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1009, 7 May 1924, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1924. LABOUR'S FIGHTING FUND.

The official reports of the recent Labour Conference, held in Dunedin under the auspices of the New Zealand Labour Party, point to a new and more determined move being made, during the next twelve months, to raise a fighting fund, which in the words of the report will enable Labour to obtain a majority of the seats in the- House of Representatives. Mr Holland and his friends have no intention of remaining the minority party in Parliament, and they ha\-e great hopes that, as a result of the splitting of the non-Labour votes amongst the Reformer;, and the Liberals, they may become either the direct 'Opposition party, or find themselves in a position to take over the Government of the country. They are aiming high; but they are optimistic enough to believe that they can raise the £25,000 they have set themselves upon obtaining, inside of twelve months. Thev state that at Jeast £2OOO is required for office purposes and for the establishment of a bureau of information, which will keep the party well posted upon the Labour movement throughout the world. As they intend nominating candidates for every constituencv, the balance of the £25,000 will probablv be expended in assisting to defray the expenses of their Parliamentary candidates and on propaganda work, "it is an easy matter to speak of raising a fighting fund of £25,000, but not quite so easy to see where the money is coming from. Mr Semple, who, since the completion of hisOrongorongo tunnelling contract, has resumed his former occupation as an organiser of Labour, has personally guaranteed to raise £IOOO. and has sealed the guarantee by giving a promissory note for that amount, and other Labour leaders are expected to follow suit. The lively expectation of favours to come major may not have influenced that guarantee, which was evidently intended as an expression of confidence in the party's ability to win its way through to the front at the next general election. But it was probably intended also as an encouragement and inspiration to the rank and file of the Labour Party, and to the members of the unions associated with it when they are called upon to make good (as it is in-» tended thev should, anil as it is hoped, thev will), the balance of the £25,000. A '"'voluntary levy" of 10s per member is to be. asked from, and presumably it is expected will be contributed by every unionist, together with larger sums of £l, £5, £lO, £25, and so on, according to the ability of the contributor to help in financing the party machine. It is a nice little scheme in its wav, but it has the obvious defect of assuming that every member of a trades union is a sympathiser, with, and supporter of. the New Zealand Labour Party and its auxiliary, the Alliance of Labour... Its success, of course, depends upon the support accorded to it by the rank and file of our trade unionists. Objections will probably be raised against the scheme by those who. while, quite, willing to accept and retain membership in their trade union, object to having their politics forced upon them by the "Reds" who bave gained control of the New Zealand Labour Party, and who are responsible for its policy which is certain to end in the confiscation of property rights if the "Reds" gain control of the country and remain in office for a sufficient length of time to put their objective—"the socialisation of the means of production, distribution and exchange '- into effect. The seventeen Labour members are exDected to exert themselves

in the direction of raising funds, and if, following Mr Semple's example, they all handed in promissory notes tor £IOOO aand gur'anteed to redeem them inside of. twelve months, the hew /lealand Labour Partv might reasonably hope to raise the balance, provided tne workers are in accord with its policy and modes of action, In regard to both, we have reason to believe tneie me wide differences of opinion amongst the unionists -themselves, and that (oft "voluntary levy" is not likely to be roceived "with any great amount of enthusiasm.