LABOUR IN AUSTRALIA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21743, 7 March 1934, Page 6

LABOUR IN AUSTRALIA

SPECTRE OP DISUNITY | RIVAL ORGANISATIONS LANG PARTY'S ATTITUDE [feom oub own correspondent] SIDNEY. March J Hopes of unity in the Labour ranks of Australia are fading.. Great interest ie; being taken in the iso-called " unity " conference, which is to be held in Sydney next week:, as s.n outcome of the sjpecial moves that have been made by tifie Victorian branch oi: the Australian Labour Party, but it! isi difficult to see at this stage how ihe rival organisations in New South Wales at least, are to become reconciled. Since the serious unity negotiations have begun the Lang Labour Party has held its annual metropolitan conference, and the delegates to that conference showed absolutely no desire to compromise with thoir " enemy," the State branch of ths Federal Labour Party. Instead, old scresi were reopened, and maybe a little salt was rubbed in just to make it plain that no mercy sliiould be expected. The Case of Mir. Willi3 The conference discussed at some length the expulsions which followed the famous Bulli by-election, when Mr. A. C. Willis, formerly agent-general under the Lang Giovernment, stood against the Lang candidate and was defeated. It was moved that those who had been expelled on that occasion for daring to give Mr. Willis their supfiort should be readmitted. It was ]K)inted out that one of the sufferers was a Labour stalwart of 30 years' standing. The mover of the resolution raid that if it wers not carried, disunity would be perpetuated. The resolution was defeated by 66 votes to 24. Another by-election is now .pending, this time in the Newcastle and the Inner Group of i:he Lang forces has selected its own candidate instead of li local man. The Lang nominee is quite unknown to the public, and the highhanded action of the executive in ignoring the demands of local Labour supporters has not been popular. Although the seat is regarded as a Labour stronghold, there is a i'eair now, among Labour men, that it will be lost. If it is lost. Mr. Lang will have a great deal 1» answer for, and his prestige will tuffer'a severe blow, Remembering the fate of Mr. Willis and his henchman, no Labour man has lieen bold enough to announce his independent candidature. Defections From Lang Party

In the meantime there, have been many defections from the Lang Party in Sydney. It is reported that many adherents of Mr. Lang are dissatisfied with the attitude of their leader to certain industrial, and political reforms, find for that reusoa they have gone over to the Federal Party. "Hie Federal Labour Party hsis l>een doing a great deal of quiet work and has been assisted by Mr. "Willis, who was recently received back into the ibid. The Federal party is particularly anxious to impress ijhe unity conference, mth its strength, hence the special, e: foits. Unity, howover, seems to be an far away as ever :it was.