THE LABOUR PARTY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21469, 18 April 1933, Page 11

THE LABOUR PARTY

| DOMINION CONFERENCE THE OPENING SESSIONS YEAR'S WORK REVIEWED The 17th annual conference of the New Zealand Labour Party was opened in the Trades Hall yesterday morning, when there was an attendance of well over 100 delegates from many parts of the Dominion. In the absence from New Zealand of the president, Mr. W. J. Jordan, M.P., Mr. P. Eraser, M.P., was appointed chairman. The delegates were cordially welcomed by Mr. A. Rosser, secretary of the Trades Hall board of trustees. In its annual report the national executive stated that its organising activities throughout the year exceeded all previous efforts, and the splendid work of the party's members in Parliament placed Labour well to the fore as the only possible alternative to the Coalition Government, which had become totally discredited in the eyes of the electors. The national office, with the ready assistance of Labour members of Parliament, organised demonstrations in all the largo centres, and in practically every town and village within reach of the railway line in both islands of the Dominion. ' Over 160 meetings were | arranged. New Branches Formed In addition to a large number of branches which had been reorganised, new branches of the party have been formed at Ashhurton, Opoutama (Maori), Upper Hutt, Oruaiwi, Havelock North, Carterton, Inglewood, Hunterville, Norsewood, Reefton, Richmond, Martinborough, Coromandel, Stratford, Halcombe, Arapuni, Whitianga, Bartletts, Glen Massey, Waimiha, Puketitiri, Karamea, Master.ton, Avondale, Waihi, Ashhurst, Green Island and Lyttelton. The following unions affiliated:—Canterbury Dairymen's, Christchurch Fire Brigades, and Christclinrch Typographical. Tho names of the following members were added to the list of approved candidates: —Messrs. D. G. McMillan, medical practitioner, Kurow; P. C. Webb, coal merchant, Christchurch; W. H. Oliver, freezing worker, Feilding; W. Wakefield, farmer, Mangere; J. Mathison, tramway motorman, Christchurch; W. Grey, bootmaker, Otahnhu; E. 0. Bond, farmer, Palmerston North; D. A. Hill, surveyor's linesman, Kerepeehi. In spite of strict attention to economy the party's book room showed a loss on the year's working, but as a result of the removal sale which was held the book room was able to reduce the amount owing to the party by over £96. It was confidently expected that the amount owing would be again materially reduced during the coming year. President's Message In a message to the conference the absent president, Mr. W. J. Jordan, said that generally throughout the Dominion we should have reason to be grateful to the Creator for a bountiful supply of things intended to make a world of comfort and happiness. The crops and increase in flocks and herds had been enormous. The output of butter and percentage of lambs had exceeded all previous records, the mineral output had been large, the physical health of the people had been satisfactory, we had maintained the lowest death rate of the countries of the world, and in many ways we had been a people prosperous in real wealth. In the matter of the distribution of the things needed there had been disaster. During the past year increased hardship lni.d been experienced because of the unsatisfactory control, or lack of control, of those things which were essential to the welfare of society. During last year more persons departed from, than arrived in, the Dominion. The number of cases of mental breakdown, and the Dominion suicide rate had reached alarming proportions. They had a record number of persons unemployed, while they and others needed "the things that they would manufacture, and restriction of sale prevailed because many who needed goods were, in the name of economy and national expenditure adjustment, forced into a position of inability to purchase in sufficient measure tho necessities of life. Society had been largely content to follow along the track which had led to unsatisfactory positions. Mr. Jordan expressed his thanks to Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, Mr. M. J. Savage, the deputyLeader, and his other Parliamentary colleagues for the way they endeavoured in Parliament to protect the interests of the people. Appreciation of the stand taken in the House by Mr. E. T. Tirikatene, M.P. for Southern Maori, was expressed" and thanks returned also to the members of the national executive of tho party, Mr. J. Thorn, the secretary, and to tho members of Labour Representation Committee branches and affiliated organisations. The preparation of a policy for submission to tho conference was entrusted to a committee comprising Messrs. H. E. Holland, M. J. Savage, W. Nash. F. Langstone, H. G. R. Mason and R. Seniple, M.P.'s, and Mr. J. Roberts.