LABOUR'S POLITICAL CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13397, 28 January 1907, Page 5

LABOUR'S POLITICAL CONFERENCE.

NO PROGRAMME TO BE

ADOPTED.

NO PLEDGE TO SOCIALISM.

TRADES UNION TEST REJECTED. By Telegraph Trees Association—Copyright (Received .7:innarv- 27. 1.22 p.m.) London. January 26. The agenda paper of a conference of the Labour party which is being held at Belfast, contained proposals for making it impossible for a party's representatives in Parliament to move in a matter of importance without the permission of the conference.

Mr. Keir Hardie protested thatsuch an arrangement would have a hampering effect on the party. Mr. Morley (Halifax) remarked that the unemployment question ought to be in the forefront of the party's programme, but Mr. Hardie and other leaders in favour of women suffrage had fallen under petticoat influence.

Ultimately it was resolved by a, large majority that the party's representatives in the House of Commons .should decide the time and method of executing their instructions.

Mr. Shacklcton moved an amendment referring back the committee's proposal that there should be established an election agent's office at a cost of £150 per annum. The amendment was carried by a majority of two to one.

Mr. Hardie and others on technical grounds opposed a proposal of the Paperslainers' Unions to make the party avowedly socialist, and the proposal was negatived by 835.000 to 98,000.

Mr. Ben Tillett (London) proposed a resolution requiring every Labour candidate for Parliament or delegate to be trade unionist. This was rejected by 553.000 votes to 381,000, the conference considering the enforcing of the trades union test inopportune.

Mr. Quelch, on behalf of the London Trades Council, mowd that the conference adopt a programme based on resolutions approved by the Trade Unions' Congress. He alleged that his proposal was innocent of socialism.

Mr. Shackleton insisted that the resolutions would commit the party to a Socialistic programme. It would be better to drop the question of a programme until they had obtained a majority in the House of Commons.

The motion was negatived by 1,021,000 votes to 76,000.

Mr. Kcir Hardie said it would be a serious tactical error to impose socialism upon an unprepared people.

The conference passed resolutions endorsing the principles of old age pensions and an eight hours' working day.