LABOUR IN POLITICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15519, 29 January 1914, Page 7

LABOUR IN POLITICS.

NO SECRET BARGAINS'. - : J - *'"* X\r . : " .*. ',• v * ;-?••' r - .;<''' '■- *' : ; VOTES TO HIGHEST BIDDERGATHERING IN . SYDNEY. ' By Telegraph.— Association Copyright. (Received January 28, 9.10 p.m.) . V London, January 28. • A special conference ;on the Labour Party's electoral and parliamentary policy has been, opened at Glasgow. ' Mr. Ramsay Macdonald (chairman of . the party) defended .its support of the Government on the ground that he did not see any reason for turning out Tweedledum for Tweedledee. He vehemently denied that any secret bargains had been made, and said it was the party's duty to'- support those making. the best offer. The r . conference, by a' large majority, approved the party's policy.' The - claim was advanced by Mr. Ramsay Macdonald that the Labour Party had : done all that 40 men could. :

UPPER HOUSE ABOLITION. GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION. CAUCUS-CHOSEN MINISTRY. . (Received January-28, 10.10 p.m.) .' : Sydney, January 28.On the resumption of the Labour conference to-day, a stir was created when it was found that other than delegates and members of the. Federal and State parties were . present, and, -i that despite the exclusion of- the .press the. papers contained; substantial reports of the previous day's proceedings. - y ; " The president ;repeated his. instructions to the doorkeeper, and asked the gentlemen who had secured admittance ;■ during this official's temporary neglect to leave the room. '• ' . * ' Mr., Robert Paten . (Liberal Federal member for Hume), and Mr. T. Campbell ' then left the hall. • After • this,, every . newcomer • was. closely questioned as to his bona-fides, ; and;;:, air to whether he was a friend of the Labour movement. Discussing the abolition of the Upper House, one speaker-: commented- severely on the rumours that the Government Bad ; decided ' on the personnel of, a batch of appointments to the ( Upper House. This was a' matter in which, the s conference had every right to . assert - its . authority. Eighteen " appointments , were *-> necessary Vto ewamp the Upper House and secure a certain- majority for the c Bill .to. bring, about its ■ abolition. ' \ A committee was appointed to inquire into 1 the claims of the , various sefctions ol the movement., .. j 'A «- / The : Labour caucus ? ballot In connection with the election of the new State Ministry resulted in the choice of Messrs Carmichael,: Griffith, Holman Flowers; Trefle, Cann, Hall, Esfcell, Hoyle, and Ashford. The three ;last-named are- all new .men. Mr. McGowen "(ex-Premier) did not 'seek re-election , while Edden was defeated. Mr. Holmaa will allot -the portfolios. - 'f: WORKERS' ffl CONFERENCE; / : - LESSONS OF THE STRIKES. p (Received January 28, 6 p.m.) l - % Sydney, January 28. ;.... At the annual conference to-day of the Australian Workers' Union, Mr. W. G. Spence (president), mentioned the condition of unionists in New Zealand, and said the Dominion Arbitration Court» was a factor in favour of wealth. Inj contradistinction were the gains obtained by the employees through- the, medium ' of < the Commonwealth • Conciliation r and > Arbitration Court. | "| 'i -- j| | |||| § J - Although ' the' purchasing ' power -of the sovereign had decreased, the experience of Australian arbitration - had- shown. a gain over and above the value of -'the; decrease. He said the time was at hand when Labour would have no chance ■ unless it- took control of the J Government, ; the military and the police.""- v - - - , , , The Brisbane, New Zealand, and South African strikes had shown that the ruling .classes tyrannised ■ over the .-. workers . ; by using unreasoning brute force, and sometimes bludgeoning people to death. Therefore: some *of : those' - wild-brained men who were advocating a, universal strike ought to learn that until' La- . bour got control • of; ■ the ; Parliamentary find other machines brute force would -be employed to crush tho unionS. ' It was' due .to the big unions getting together; that ,the threatened spread of - tie r New, Zealand strike was prevented.- vs« ' V."k '