LABOUR'S ATTITUDE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 2 April 1929, Page 6

LABOUR'S ATTITUDE

TO THE GOVERNMENT "MUCH WE CAN SUPPORT, BUT—'' ; Hie attitude of |W,NeW Zealand Labour Party towards" {Ho Government is defined in' the annual report of the notional executive adopted ni the Labour Parly Conforenco yesterday. "The elections of November last," states' the report, "resulted in the return to office of a Government with a varied programme, much of which the Labour Party can support. To the extent that legislation is introduced and the laws administered in accc-rd with the programme of the Labour Party, every member of the party in Parliament will support the Government. The conflict Is, however, still in progress. The enemies of Labour—the enemies of the people—are supporting the Government. The administrative acts of the Government as far as unemployment pay and policv arc concerned are in conflict with the expressed policy of the Prime Minister/ The heritage of New Zealand in so far as its riUblic services are concerned is menaced—and you may rest assured that whatever name is given to a party or government, that party or government will be fought with the full strength of Labour when its policy conflicts with the progress and well-being of the workers with hand and brain. "We believe that our.policy is in the best interest of the whole ,of the people. We believe that the" policy must not only be written into the laws, but must be administered by those with faith in co-operation against competitionj whoso goal is (he commonwealth of service. Ihe existing system carries its own disintegrating factors, and soon or late the time will come when those who render service will receive their utue reward, and the fruits 'of the earth shall be distributed, not in proportion to .the power of wealth or aims, ; but in accord with the needs of the people. It- is always well to remember that they com quer who believe they can'-and in the words of one, of the pioneers, Robert Applegarth, 'We younger people can see further than the older opes, because we are standing oh their shoulders. May the vision of the co-operative Commonwealth inspire every trUe servant ot the people to go forward assured that; in so fur -hat ho or she is armed,, with Ihij weapons of truth and equity, justice and mercy, the fight cannot be lost. THE RECENT ELECTIONS : Coriirrieritirig' on the result, of the General Election last. November,, the re P. ort states that the Labour P&ty s policy, set out in attractive, newspaper advertisements, added to th'e discrediting ot the Reform Party, and. Labours liability to finance candidates in some important electorates resulted in the United Partv winning.2s European seats, which, with the addition of one Independent and two Maori seats, gave it a following of 28 members in the House ct Representatives. The report refers with regret to the .loss of the, services of Messrs J. A, Lee and F. N Bartram Labour m'embers who. suffered defeat at the elections, arid adds that the seats lost should be won again at the next elections^ UNEMPLOYMENT PAY 14s A DAY DEMANDED WELLINGTON, This Day. The. Labour Party is not satisfied with the Government's 'action regarding unemployment, arid is beginning to use threats. A report submitted to the annua;! conference says ihat if the Government will pay reasonable rates it will receive support, but if not, it will be put where 1 the Reform Party now lies. *A resolution was passed demanding 14s per day arid immediate provision.tor employment, with legislation enacting contributory unemployment insurance.