FEDERAL LABOUR PARTY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15350, 13 January 1912, Page 9

FEDERAL LABOUR PARTY

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. FUTURE OF TIIK PACIFIC. FEDERATION WITH NEW ZEALAND. Proas Association—By TclogHiph—Copyright. lIOBART, January 12. A motion that, in tlio event of constitutional power being obtained, n national sugar refinery should be established was carried. It was also agreed that publiclyowned ironworks were an urgent necessity. It was decided to send a letter of fraternal greeting to the Social Democratic party in Germany, wishing them success in the elections. A motion by Mr Fisher, seconded by Mr M'Gowen, that negotiations for closer industrial and commercial relations with Now Zealand should he opened immediately was carried. Mr Fisher said that it wan well known that any trouble in tho Pacific would have to be met by all Australia. They should get New Zealand's opinion. Mr M'Gowen said that a widened federation, by the inclusion of New Zealand, was necessary for the welfare of the States. Tho motion that State members bo eligible lo contest Federal feats without resigning their seats in the State Legislatures was rarricd. (Itcceived dan. 12, at 10.30 p.m.) Mr Fisher's motion in favour of cstabItahing closer industrial and commercial relations with New Zealand was as follows :—" The conference being impressed with the belief that the interests, welfare, and safely <>f the Commonwealth an<! New Zealand are mutually bound up in each other, it in extremely desirable that closer political, industrial, and commercial relations should be retablisbcd between the two countries." The motion recommended that the Commonwealth Government should immediately open negotiations with thn New Zealand Government on the lines of the resolution. In proposing tho motion Mr Fisher declared that the Dominion was undoubtedly in favour of the federation of two peoples who both recognised that the fate of one would be the fate of the other if there ever happened to como n conflict willi a greater people- more powerful than themselves. It was becoming that the Labour party should take the lead in opening the negotiations with New Zealand. Mr M'Gowen, in seconding tltc motion, said that Australia, had to deplore the fact that New Zealand was out of the Federation when they realised that the Dominion had Id them all in the early day s of democratic and progressive legiela". tion, and that it was not now allied, but rather a formidable opponent in certain directions. The wisdom of New Zealand being with the rest of Australasia was ad. mill«I, and lie believed that from every standpoint, not only in the interests of Australia, but in the interests of Australasia, New Zealand and the rest; of tho islands in tho Pacific should be allied.