LABOUR CONFERENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21470, 19 April 1933, Page 13

LABOUR CONFERENCE

SCHOOL ENTRANCE AGE MR. LANGSTONE PRESIDENT The annual conference of the New Zealand Labour Party was continued at the Trades Hall yesterday, Mr. P. Fraser, M.P., presiding. One of the keenest discussions of tho day took place on the Government's policy of raising the schopl age. The conference unanimously decided to reaffirm the party's objection to tho raising of the school age from five to six years, on the grounds that this action on the part of the Coalition Government was inimical to the best interests of children, parents and teachers alike, and increased the difficulties of the school committees. The proposal that it should be a function of a State bank to bring about a progressive reduction in interest was referred to the committee appointed to revise the policy of the party. A similar course was taken with a proposal to extend the functions of the State Advances Office to include the provision of all credit necessary for the establishment of* secondary industries natural to and in the interests of the Dominion as a whole. Mr. F. Langstone, M.P., was elected president of the Now Zealand Labour Party in succession to Mr. W. J. Jordan, M.P., and Mr. C. L. Carr, M.P., was elected vice-president. It is expected the conference will conclude to-morrow. Resolutions favouring the payment of sustenance to unemployed women and of pensions to widows unable to earn their living, irrespective of whether they were with or without means of livelihood, were carried. A proposal that the family allowances for relief workers should be extended to cover all children was also supported. The conference passed a remit favouring the establishment of an Appeal Board for mental hospitals. The amending of the electoral law to place Maori elections on the same basis as European by providing electoral rolls aiul voting by secret ballot was supported.